SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 3Handling of Complaints and Conduct matters etc.

F1Part 2Ahandling of death and serious injury (DSI) matters

Duty to preserve evidence relating to DSI matters

14B

(1)

Where—

(a)

a DSI matter comes to the attention of a F2local policing body , and

(b)

the relevant officer in relation to that matter is the chief officer of the force maintained by F3that body,

it shall be the duty of F3that body to secure that all such steps as are appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act are taken, both initially and from time to time after that, for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(2)

Where—

(a)

a chief officer becomes aware of a DSI matter, and

(b)

the relevant officer in relation to that matter is a person under his direction and control,

it shall be his duty to take all such steps as appear to him to be appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(3)

The chief officer's duty under sub-paragraph (2) must be performed as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of the matter in question.

(4)

After that, he shall be under a duty, until he is satisfied that it is no longer necessary to do so, to continue to take the steps from time to time appearing to him to be appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to the matter.

(5)

It shall be the duty of a F4local policing body to comply with all such directions as may be given to it by the F5Director General in relation to the performance of any duty imposed on it by virtue of sub-paragraph (1).

(6)

It shall be the duty of the chief officer to take all such specific steps for obtaining or preserving evidence relating to any DSI matter as he may be directed to take for the purposes of this paragraph by the F6local policing body maintaining his force or by the F5Director General.