ABSTRACT
The legal basis of a police authority is contained in the Police Act which directs that a police authority will be established as a statutory corporate body in each police area. Police authorities are independent of other local government bodies but they are subject to the same statutory controls in their general procedures and the standards that are expected from their members. The police authority, subject to the approval of the Home Secretary, is responsible for the appointment, removal and discipline of their chief constable and at least one assistant chief constable. The police authority is the lawful discipline authority for its chief constable and assistant chief constables. The police authority must keep a fund to be known as the police fund. Before determining the local policing objectives the authority must: consult the chief constable for the area; and consider any views obtained as a result of community consultations.
