Police Reform Act 2002

Action by the appropriate authority in response to an investigation report [F1 under paragraph 22] E+W

24 (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) a report of an investigation is submitted to the appropriate authority in accordance with paragraph [F2 22(2)] ; or

(b) a copy of a report on an investigation carried out under the supervision of the Commission is sent to the appropriate authority in accordance with paragraph [F3 22(3)] .

(2) On receipt of the report or (as the case may be) of the copy, the appropriate authority—

[F4 (a) shall determine whether the conditions set out in sub-paragraphs (2A) and (2B) are satisfied in respect of the report;]

(b) if it determines that [F5 those conditions are so satisfied], shall notify the Director of Public Prosecutions of the determination and send him a copy of the report[F6 and

(c) shall notify the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) of its determination under paragraph (a) and of any action taken by it under paragraph (b).]

[F7 (2A) The first condition is that the report indicates that a criminal offence may have been committed by a person to whose conduct the investigation related.

(2B) The second condition is that—

(a) the circumstances are such that, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, it is appropriate for the matters dealt with in the report to be considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions, or

(b) any matters dealt with in the report fall within any prescribed category of matters.]

(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall notify the appropriate authority of any decision of his to take, or not to take, action in respect of the matters dealt with in any report a copy of which has been sent to him under sub-paragraph (2).

(4) It shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to notify the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) if criminal proceedings are brought against any person by the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of any matters dealt with in a report copied to him under sub-paragraph (2)(b).

(5) [F8 The] persons are—

(a) in the case of a complaint, the complainant and every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

[F9 (5A) In the case of a report falling within sub-paragraph (1)(b) which relates to a recordable conduct matter, the appropriate authority shall also notify the Commission of its determination under sub-paragraph (2)(a).

(5B) On receipt of such a notification that the appropriate authority has determined that the conditions in sub-paragraphs (2A) and (2B) are not satisfied in respect of the report, the Commission—

(a) shall make its own determination as to whether those conditions are so satisfied, and

(b) if it determines that they are so satisfied, shall direct the appropriate authority to notify the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Commission's determination and to send the Director a copy of the report.

(5C) It shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to comply with any direction given to it under sub-paragraph (5B).]

[F10 (6) On receipt of the report or (as the case may be) copy, the appropriate authority shall also—

(a) in accordance with regulations under section 50 or 51 of the 1996 Act, determine—

(i) whether any person to whose conduct the investigation related has a case to answer in respect of misconduct or gross misconduct or has no case to answer, and

[F11 (ia) whether or not any such person's performance is unsatisfactory, and]

(ii) what action (if any) the authority is required to, or will in its discretion, take in respect of the matters dealt with in the report, and

(b) determine what other action (if any) the authority will in its discretion take in respect of those matters.]

(7) On the making of [F12 the determinations] under sub-paragraph (6) the appropriate authority shall give a notification—

(a) in the case of a complaint, to the complainant and to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

(8) The notification required by sub-paragraph (7) is one setting out—

(a) the findings of the report;

[F13 (b) the determinations the authority has made under sub-paragraph (6);]

(d) the complainant’s right of appeal under paragraph 25.

(9) Subsections (5) to (7) of section 20 shall have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the appropriate authority by sub-paragraph (7) of this paragraph as they have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the appropriate authority by that section.

(10) Except so far as may be otherwise provided by regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (9), the appropriate authority shall be entitled (notwithstanding any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise) to discharge the duty to give a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (7) notification of the findings of the report by sending that person a copy of the report.

[F14 (11) In relation to a DSI matter in respect of which a determination has been made under paragraph 21A(2) or (4), the references in this paragraph to the appropriate authority are references to the appropriate authority in relation to the person whose conduct is in question.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 3 para. 24 heading inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 23(1); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

F2 Words in Sch. 3 para. 24(1)(a) substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 23(2)(a); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 24(1)(b) substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 23(2)(b); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

F4 Sch. 3 para. 24(2)(a) substituted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(2)(a) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F5 Words in Sch. 3 para. 24(2)(b) substituted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(2)(b) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F6 Sch. 3 para. 24(2)(c) and word inserted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(2)(c) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F7 Sch. 3 para. 24(2A)(2B) inserted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(3) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F8 Word in Sch. 3 para. 24(5) substituted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(4) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F9 Sch. 3 para. 24(5A)-(5C) inserted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(5) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F10 Sch. 3 para. 24(6) substituted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(6) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F11 Sch. 3 para. 24(6)(a)(ia) inserted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 14 para. 14(3); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(g) (with art. 6)

F12 Words in Sch. 3 para. 24(7) substituted (1.12.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(7) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F13 Sch. 3 para. 24(8)(b) substituted (1.12.2008) for Sch. 3 para. 24(8)(b)(c) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 127, 153, Sch. 23 para. 14(8) (with s. 14(1)); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(i)(i) (subject to art. 3)

F14 Sch. 3 para. 24(11) inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 23(3); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 3 para. 24 applied (with modifications) (28.12.2005) by virtue of The Revenue and Customs (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3311), reg. 3(4)(6), Sch. 3

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 24 wholly in force at 1.4.2004; Sch. 3 para. 24 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 108(2); Sch. 3 para. 24 in force for specified purposes at 1.10.2002 by S.I. 2002/2306, art. 4(e); Sch. 3 para. 24 in force in so far as not already in force at 1.4.2004 by S.I. 2004/913, art. 2(d)