The Ministry of Defence Police (Conduct, Performance and Appeals Tribunals) Regulations 2020

Police friend

6.—(1) The officer concerned may choose any of the following persons, provided the person is not otherwise involved in the matter, to act as a police friend—

(a) an MDP officer,

(b) an officer from a relevant force,

(c) a staff member, or

(d) a person nominated by a staff association.

(2) Subject to regulation 66(1), the police friend may—

(a) advise the officer concerned throughout the proceedings under these Regulations,

(b) represent the officer at the misconduct proceedings or accelerated misconduct hearing or appeal meeting, unless the officer has the right to be legally represented and chooses to be so represented,

(c) make representations to the relevant authority concerning any aspect of the proceedings under these Regulations, and

(d) accompany the officer to any interview, meeting or hearing which forms part of any proceedings under these Regulations.

(3) Where the police friend is an MDP officer, the chief constable must permit the police friend to use a reasonable amount of duty time for the purposes referred to in paragraph (2).

(4) Where the police friend is a staff member, the Secretary of State for Defence must permit that person to use a reasonable amount of duty time for the purposes referred to in paragraph (2).