7.—(1) The functions of the IPCC in relation to the Commissioners and officers shall be—
(a)to secure the maintenance by the IPCC itself, and by the Commissioners, of suitable arrangements with respect to the matters mentioned in paragraph (2);
(b)to keep under review all arrangements maintained with respect to those matters;
(c)to secure that arrangements maintained with respect to those matters comply with the requirements of the following provisions of this Part, are efficient and effective and contain and manifest an appropriate degree of independence;
(d)to secure that public confidence is established and maintained in the existence of suitable arrangements with respect to those matters and with the operation of the arrangements that are in fact maintained with respect to those matters;
(e)to make such recommendations, and to give such advice, for the modification of the arrangements maintained with respect to those matters, as appear, from the carrying out by the IPCC of its other functions, to be necessary or desirable.
(2) Those matters are—
(a)the handling of complaints made about the conduct of the Commissioners or officers which the appropriate authority—
(i)has a duty to refer to the IPCC under regulation 28(1) (reference of complaints to the IPCC), or
(ii)may refer to the IPCC under regulation 28(4) or (5);
(b)the recording of matters from which it appears that—
(i)there may have been conduct by such persons which constitutes or involves the commission of a criminal offence or behaviour justifying disciplinary proceedings, and
(ii)that conduct or behaviour is conduct or behaviour which the appropriate authority has a duty to refer to the IPCC under regulation 30(1) (reference of conduct matters to the IPCC) or may refer to the IPCC under regulation 30(5) or (6) of these Regulations;
(c)the recording of matters from which it appears that a person has died or suffered serious injury during, or following, contact with an officer;
(d)the manner in which any such complaints or any such matters as are mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) or (c) are investigated or otherwise handled and dealt with.
(3) It shall be the duty of the IPCC—
(a)to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred on it by the following provisions of these Regulations in the manner that it considers best calculated for the purpose of securing the proper carrying out of its functions under paragraph (1), and
(b)to secure that arrangements exist which are conducive to, and facilitate, the reporting of misconduct by persons in relation to whose conduct the IPCC has functions.
(4) It shall also be the duty of the IPCC—
(a)to enter into arrangements with the chief inspector of constabulary for the purpose of securing co-operation, in the carrying out of their respective functions in relation to the Commissioners and officers, between the IPCC and the inspectors of constabulary, and
(b)to provide those inspectors with all such assistance and co-operation as may be required by those arrangements, or as otherwise appears to the IPCC to be appropriate, for facilitating the carrying out by those inspectors of their functions.
(5) Subject to the other provisions of these Regulations, the IPCC may do anything which appears to it to be calculated to facilitate, or is incidental or conducive to, the carrying out of its functions.
(6) The IPCC may, in connection with the making of any recommendation or the giving of any advice to any person for the purpose of carrying out its function under paragraph (1)(e), impose any such charge on that person for anything done by the IPCC for the purposes of, or in connection with, the carrying out of that function as it thinks fit.
(7) Nothing in these Regulations shall confer any function on the IPCC in relation to so much of any complaint or conduct matter as relates to the direction and control of HMRC by the Commissioners.