Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

31B: After Clause 1, insert the following new Clause— ““Deputy police and crime commissioners (1) There is to be a deputy police and crime commissioner (““the deputy commissioner””) for each police area listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas outside London). (2) The name of the deputy commissioner for a police area is ““the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for”” with the addition of the name of the police area. (3) The deputy commissioner shall be appointed by the police and crime commissioner for the area from among those members of the police and crime panel for the police area who are properly appointed as members of the panel. (4) The deputy commissioner shall have— (a) such functions that are performed by the police and crime commissioner for that police area, where the police and crime commissioner is unable or unavailable to perform them in accordance with this Act; (b) such other functions that are conferred by this Act or any other enactment. (5) A person must not hold the office of deputy commissioner and chair the police and crime panel at the same time. (6) If the police and crime commissioner appoints as deputy commissioner the person who chairs the police and crime panel, the person shall resign as chair of the police and crime panel. (7) Subsections (5) and (6) apply in relation to the deputy chair of the police and crime panel (if there is one) as they apply in relation to the chair of the police and crime panel. (8) A person shall cease to be the deputy commissioner if— (a) that person ceases to be a police and crime panel member; (b) that person, at any time, gives notice of resignation as the deputy commissioner to the police and crime commissioner’s chief executive; or (c) the police and crime commissioner at any time gives notice terminating his or her appointment as deputy commissioner. (9) A person who ceases to be deputy commissioner shall be eligible for reappointment.””