24.—(1) The Director General may decide to present the case on behalf of the relevant authority where—
(a)paragraph (2) applies and the case is referred to a misconduct hearing or an accelerated misconduct hearing, or
(b)paragraph (4) applies and the case is referred to an accelerated misconduct hearing.
(2) This paragraph applies to a case—
(a)in respect of which a duty referred to in regulation 23(8)(a) or (c) arises, and
(b)where one of the conditions set out in paragraph (3) is satisfied.
(3) The conditions are—
(a)the relevant authority, when its views were sought in respect of the case under paragraph 23(5A)(a)(i) of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act(1) (action by the Director General in relation to an investigation report under paragraph 22), or subsequently, has expressed a view as to whether any person to whose conduct the case relates has a case to answer in respect of misconduct or gross misconduct that differed from the determination of the Director General under paragraph 23(5A)(b)(i) on that matter,
(b)the relevant authority notified the Director General under paragraph 25(4D)(a) of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act(2) (reviews with respect to an investigation) that it did not accept a recommendation of the Director General under paragraph 25(4C)(c)(i) of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act (reviews with respect to an investigation),
(c)the relevant authority and the Director General agree that the Director General should present the case, or
(d)the Director General is of the view that in the particular circumstances of the case there is a compelling public interest for the Director General to present the case.
(4) This paragraph applies to a case where—
(a)the relevant authority submitted a memorandum to the Director General setting out its reasons for determining either that—
(i)the special conditions are not satisfied, or
(ii)although the special conditions are satisfied, the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate at present to bring disciplinary proceedings, and
(b)the Director General directed the relevant authority to certify the case as one where the special conditions are satisfied for the purposes of these Regulations.
(5) Where the Director General makes a decision under paragraph (1) to present a case, the Director General must as soon as practicable inform the relevant authority of the decision.
(6) The Ombudsman must present the case on behalf of the relevant authority where the Ombudsman has, under section 59(5) of the 1998 Act, directed the chief constable that proceedings are to be brought.
(7) The relevant authority must give the Director General or the Ombudsman any assistance the Director General or the Ombudsman reasonably requires for the purpose of presenting a case.
(8) The special conditions are that—
(a)there is sufficient evidence, in the form of written statements or other documents, to establish on the balance of probabilities that conduct to which the investigation relates constitutes gross misconduct, and
(b)it is in the public interest for the person whose conduct it is to cease being an MDP officer without delay.
Sub-paragraph (5A) was inserted, with sub-paragraphs (5B) to (5F), by paragraph 26 of Schedule 5 to the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3).
Sub-paragraph (4D) was inserted, with sub-paragraphs (4A) to (4J), by paragraph 34 of Schedule 5 to the Policing and Crime Act 2017.