These Regulations make amendments to the separate Regulations dealing with discipline of police constables of the ranks below that of assistant chief constable and of that rank and above respectively. The amendments are consequential on the abolition of the rank of deputy chief constable by virtue of the coming into force of section 48 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 (c. 29) on 1st April 1995.

In terms of article 4 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 (Commencement No.7 and Transitional Provisions) (Scotland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/492), any person who on 1st April 1995 would hold the rank of deputy chief constable in a police force maintained under section 1 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 but for the commencement by that Order of the provisions of the said Act of 1994 abolishing that rank shall hold the rank of assistant chief constable. Accordingly, where in terms of the Police (Discipline) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 the deputy chief constable has assigned to him certain functions, these Regulations make amendments which have the effect of transferring these functions to the assistant chief constable of the relevant police force who is required by the chief constable to perform the function in any particular case.