Part III The police force
20 Exercise of functions of Chief Constable in cases of absence, incapacity, etc.
1
The Chief Constable shall, after consulting the Police Authority, designate a senior officer to exercise all the functions of the Chief Constable—
a
during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the Chief Constable; or
b
during any vacancy in the office of Chief Constable.
2
No more than one senior officer shall be authorised to act by virtue of a designation under subsection (1) at any one time; and an officer so authorised shall not have power to act by virtue of that subsection for a continuous period exceeding 3 months except with the consent of the Secretary of State.
3
Subsection (1) is in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other statutory provision which makes provision for the exercise by any other person of functions of the Chief Constable.