After section 11 of the 1996 Act (appointment and removal of chief constables), there shall be inserted—

“11A Appointment and removal of deputy chief constables

(1)

Every police force maintained under section 2 shall have a deputy chief constable.

(2)

The appointment of a person to be the deputy chief constable of a police force shall be made, in accordance with regulations under section 50, by the police authority responsible for maintaining that force, but only after consultation with the chief constable and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.

(3)

Subsections (2) to (4) of section 11 shall apply in relation to a deputy chief constable as they apply in relation to a chief constable.”