The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2004

Withdrawn and discontinued complaints

15.—(1) If an appropriate authority receives from a complainant notification in writing signed by him or by his solicitor or other authorised agent on his behalf to the effect either—

(a) that he withdraws the complaint, or

(b) that he does not wish any further steps to be taken in consequence of the complaint,

then the appropriate authority shall forthwith record the withdrawal or the fact that the complainant does not wish any further steps to be taken, as the case may be, and subject to the following provisions of this regulation, the provisions of Part 2 of the 2002 Act shall cease to apply in respect of that complaint.

(2) Where a complainant gives such notification as is mentioned in paragraph (1) to the Commission but, so far as is apparent to the Commission, has not sent that notification to the appropriate authority, then—

(a) the Commission shall send a copy of the notification to the appropriate authority;

(b) that appropriate authority shall record the withdrawal or the fact that the complainant does not wish any further steps to be taken, as the case may be; and

(c) subject to the following provisions of this regulation, the provisions of Part 2 of the 2002 Act shall cease to apply in respect of that complaint.

(3) Where a complainant gives such notification as is mentioned in paragraph (1) to an appropriate authority, or where the appropriate authority receives a copy of a notification under paragraph (2), and it relates to a complaint—

(a) which was referred to the Commission under paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act and which has not been referred back to the appropriate authority under paragraph 5(2) of that Schedule;

(b) which the appropriate authority knows is currently the subject of an appeal to the Commission under paragraph 3, 9 or 25 of that Schedule; or

(c) which was notified to the appropriate authority by the Commission under paragraph 2(1) of that Schedule,

then the appropriate authority shall notify the Commission that it has recorded the withdrawal of the complaint or the fact that the complainant does not wish any further steps to be taken, as the case may be.

(4) In a case falling within paragraph (3)(b) or (c), the appropriate authority shall also—

(a) determine whether it is in the public interest for the complaint to be treated as a recordable conduct matter; and

(b) notify the Commission of its determination and the reasons for that determination.

(5) In a case falling within paragraph (3)(a), the Commission shall determine whether it is in the public interest for the complaint to be treated as a recordable conduct matter, and shall notify the appropriate authority of its decision.

(6) Where a determination is made that a complaint is to be treated as a recordable conduct matter, then the provisions of Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act shall apply to that matter.

(7) Where a complainant gives such notification as is mentioned in paragraph (1) to an appropriate authority, or where the appropriate authority receives a copy of a notification under paragraph (2), and that notification relates to a complaint which does not fall within any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (3), then—

(a) the appropriate authority shall determine whether it is in the public interest for the complaint to be treated as a recordable conduct matter;

(b) if the complaint is to be treated as a recordable conduct matter, the provisions of Part 2 of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act shall apply to that matter;

(c) if the complaint is not to be treated as a recordable conduct matter, the provisions of Part 2 of the 2002 Act shall cease to apply in respect of that complaint.

(8) In a case where—

(a) a complaint has been subjected to an investigation by the appropriate authority on its own behalf;

(b) the complaint is currently subject to an appeal to the Commission under paragraph 25 of Schedule 3 to the Act; and

(c) the appropriate authority has notified the Commission under paragraph (4)(b) that it has determined that the complaint is not to be treated as a recordable conduct matter,

the Commission shall consider whether it is in the public interest for that determination to be reversed, and if so it shall instruct the appropriate authority to reverse the decision.

(9) Where a complainant indicates that he wishes to withdraw the complaint or that he does not wish any further steps to be taken in consequence of the complaint, but he fails to provide a notification to that effect in writing signed by him or on his behalf, then—

(a) in the case of an indication received by the appropriate authority, the authority shall take the steps set out in paragraph (10);

(b) in the case of an indication received by the Commission, the Commission shall refer the matter to the appropriate authority which shall take the steps set out in paragraph (10).

(10) Those steps are—

(a) the appropriate authority shall write to the complainant to ascertain whether he wishes to withdraw his complaint or does not wish any further steps to be taken in consequence of the complaint;

(b) if the complainant indicates that he wishes to withdraw his complaint or does not wish any further steps to be taken in consequence of the complaint, or if he fails to reply within 21 days, the appropriate authority shall treat the indication as though it had been received in writing signed by the complainant;

(c) if the complainant indicates that he does not wish to withdraw his complaint, or that he does wish further steps to be taken in consequence of the complaint, the appropriate authority shall start or resume the investigation as the case may be.

(11) The appropriate authority shall notify the person complained against if—

(a) it records the withdrawal of a complaint or the fact that the complainant does not wish any further steps to be taken;

(b) it determines that a complaint shall be treated as a recordable conduct matter;

(c) the Commission determines that a complaint shall be treated as a recordable conduct matter;

(d) the Commission instructs it to reverse a decision not to treat a complaint as a recordable conduct matter;

(e) the provisions of Part 2 of the 2002 Act cease to apply in respect of a complaint.

(12) But nothing in paragraph (11) shall require the appropriate authority to make a notification if it has previously decided under regulation 14(3) not to notify the person complained against of the complaint because it is of the opinion that that might prejudice any criminal investigation or pending proceedings or would be contrary to the public interest.