Police Reform Act 2002

Failures to notify or record a complaint

3 (1) This paragraph applies where anything which is or purports to be a complaint in relation to which paragraph (2) has effect is received by a police authority or chief officer (whether in consequence of having been made directly or of a notification under that paragraph).

(2) If the police authority or chief officer decides not to take action under paragraph (2) for notifying or recording the whole or any part of what has been received, the authority or chief officer shall notify the complainant of the following matters—

(a) the decision to take no action and, if that decision relates to only part of what was received, the part in question;

(b) the grounds on which the decision was made; and

(c) that complainant’s right to appeal against that decision under this paragraph.

(3) The complainant shall have a right of appeal to the Commission against any failure by the police authority or chief officer to make a determination under paragraph 2 or to notify or record anything under that paragraph.

(4) On an appeal under this paragraph, the Commission shall—

(a) determine whether any action under paragraph 2 should have been taken in the case in question; and

(b) if the Commission finds in the complainant’s favour, give such directions as the Commission considers appropriate to the police authority or chief officer as to the action to be taken for making a determination, or for notifying or recording what was received;

and it shall be the duty of a police authority or chief officer to comply with any directions given under paragraph (b).

(5) Directions under sub-paragraph (4)(b) may require action taken in pursuance of the directions to be treated as taken in accordance with any such provision of paragraph 2 as may be specified in the direction.

(6) The Commission—

(a) shall give notification both to the police authority or, as the case may be, the chief officer and to the complainant of any determination made by it under this paragraph; and

(b) shall give notification to the complainant of any direction given by it under this paragraph to the police authority or chief officer.

(7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—

(a) for the form and manner in which appeals under this paragraph are to be brought;

(b) for the period within which any such appeal must be brought; and

(c) for the procedure to be followed by the Commission when dealing with or disposing of any such appeal.