53.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the officer concerned must attend the special case hearing.
(2) Where the officer concerned informs the person conducting or chairing the special case hearing in advance that the officer concerned is unable to attend, on grounds which the person conducting or chairing the hearing considers reasonable, that person may allow the officer concerned to participate in the hearing by video link or other means.
(3) Where the officer concerned participates in the special case hearing by video link or other means, or fails to attend the special case hearing—
(a)the officer may nonetheless be represented at that hearing by the—
(i)police friend; or
(ii)relevant lawyer (in which case the police friend may also attend); and
(b)the hearing may be proceeded with and concluded in the absence of the officer concerned whether or not the officer is so represented.
(4) Where the officer concerned—
(a)attends the proceedings by video link or other means, and
(b)is represented in accordance with paragraph (3)(a),
the relevant lawyer or the police friend, or both, may participate using the video link or other means as are used by the officer concerned.