Deputy chief constable

Deputy chief constable (DCC) is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom (except the Metropolitan Police, in which the equivalent rank is deputy assistant commissioner, and City of London Police, in which the equivalent rank is assistant commissioner), as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear Constabulary. The Isle of Man Constabulary also has a DCC.

Until 2006, each force could only have one DCC, who would normally be second-in-command to the chief constable. However, Schedule 2 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 amended the Police Act 1996 to permit more than one DCC within each force. However, as yet no force has had more than one DCC at any one time.

The DCC ranks above the assistant chief constables. The role of the DCC varies from force to force. In some smaller forces (usually those with only a single ACC or no ACC), they take responsibility for territorial policing, but in most forces the role covers corporate functions including professional standards.

The rank of deputy chief constable was abolished on 1 April 1995 following recommendations made in the Sheehy Report, except for officers already holding the rank, although most forces continued to designate one of the ACCs as "designated deputy" to the chief constable. The Home Office officially reintroduced the rank on 1 January 2002.

Insignia

The rank badge worn by a DCC consists of a bath star ("pip") over crossed tipstaves within a wreath, similar to the insignia of a major-general in the British Army.