(1)In every police force there shall be a deputy chief constable who shall have all the powers and duties of the chief constable—
(a)during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the chief constable;
(b)during any vacancy in the office of chief constable;
but shall not have power to act by virtue of this subsection for any continuous period exceeding three months except with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(2)The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other enactment which makes provision for the exercise by any other person of the powers conferred by that enactment on a chief constable.
(3)A deputy chief constable of a police force shall, on his appointment as such, be deemed also to be appointed to the office of constable of the force, unless he then holds that office.
(4)The establishment of a police force may include one or more persons holding the rank of assistant chief constable.
(5)Appointments to the office of deputy chief constable, and appointments or promotions to the rank of assistant chief constable, shall be made, in accordance with regulations made under Part II of this Act, by the police authority after consultation with the chief constable and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.
(6)Subsections (4) to (7) of section 4 of this Act shall apply to a deputy chief constable and to an assistant chief constable as they apply to a chief constable.