The Policing Protocol Order 2023

The Chief Constable E+W

23.  The Chief Constable is responsible to the public and accountable to the PCC for—

(a) leading the force in a way that is consistent with the Code of Ethics and Oath of Attestation made by all constables on appointment and ensuring that it acts with impartiality (including political impartiality);

(b) appointing the force’s officers and staff (after consultation with the PCC, in the case of officers above the rank of Chief Superintendent and police staff equivalents);

(c) supporting the PCC in the delivery of the strategy and objectives set out in the Plan;

(d) assisting the PCC in planning the force’s budget;

(e) providing the PCC with access to information, officers and staff as required;

(f) having regard to the Strategic Policing Requirement when exercising and planning their policing functions in respect of their force’s national and international policing responsibilities;

(g) notifying and briefing the PCC of any matter or investigation on which the PCC may need to provide public assurance either alone or in company with the Chief Constable (all PCCs will be designated as Crown Servants under the Official Secrets Act 1989(1)), making them subject to the same duties in relation to sensitive material as Government Ministers);

(h) being the operational voice of policing in the force area and regularly explaining to the public the operational actions of officers and staff under their command;

(i) entering into collaboration agreements with other Chief Constables, other policing bodies and partners that improve the efficiency or effectiveness of policing, and with the agreement of their respective Policing Bodies;

(j) remaining politically independent of their PCC;

(k) managing all complaints against the force, its officers and staff, except in relation to the Chief Constable, and ensuring that the PCC is kept informed in such a way as to enable the PCC to discharge their statutory obligations in relation to complaints in a regular, meaningful and timely fashion. Serious complaints and conduct matters must be passed to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in line with legislation;

(l) exercising the power of direction and control in such a way as is reasonable to enable their PCC to have access to all necessary information and staff within the force;

(m) having day to day responsibility for financial management of the force within the framework of the agreed budget allocation and levels of authorisation issued by the PCC within the local schemes of governance. Such schemes should facilitate the PCC’s strategic direction of the force but should not fetter the operational independence of Chief Constables and should enable Chief Constables to deliver their role efficiently and effectively.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. modified (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 33(2), Sch. 5 para. 59(2)(f)

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. para. 23 in force at 3.7.2023, see art. 1(1)

(1)

1989 c. 6.