26.—(1) The arrangements made by the appropriate authority for subjecting any complaint to local resolution may include the appointment of a person who is an NCA officer to secure the local resolution of the complaint.
(2) The procedures that are to be available for dealing with a complaint which is to be subjected to local resolution are, subject to the provisions of this regulation, any procedures which are approved by the Commission.
(3) Where it appears to the appointed person that the complaint had in fact already been satisfactorily dealt with at the time it was brought to his notice, the appointed person may, subject to any representation by the complainant, treat it as having been locally resolved.
(4) The appointed person shall as soon as practicable give the complainant and the person complained against an opportunity to comment on the complaint.
(5) The appointed person shall not, for the purpose of locally resolving a complaint, tender on behalf of the person complained against an apology for that person’s conduct unless the person complained against has agreed to the apology.
(6) Where a complaint has been dealt with by way of local resolution, a record shall be made as soon as practicable of the outcome of the procedure and a copy of the record sent to the complainant and the person complained against.
(7) At the time of sending a copy of the record of outcome to the complainant under paragraph (6), the appropriate authority shall notify the complainant in writing of the complainant’s right of appeal against that outcome under regulation 27 (appeals relating to complaints dealt with other than by investigation), unless paragraph (2) of that regulation applies.
(8) In this regulation, “the appointed person” means a person appointed under paragraph (1) to secure the local resolution of a complaint.
(9) A statement made by any person for the purposes of the local resolution of any complaint shall not be admissible in any subsequent criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings except to the extent that it consists of an admission relating to a matter that has not been subjected to local resolution.
(10) If, after attempts have been made to resolve a complaint using local resolution, it appears to the appropriate authority—
(a)that the resolution of the complaint in that manner is impossible; or
(b)that the complaint is, for any other reason, not suitable for such resolution,
it shall make arrangements for the complaint to be investigated by that authority on its own behalf.
(11) The local resolution of any complaint shall be discontinued if—
(a)any arrangements are made under paragraph (9);
(b)the Commission notifies the appropriate authority that it requires the complaint to be referred to the Commission under regulation 22; or
(c)the complaint is so referred otherwise than in pursuance of such a notification.
(12) A person who has participated in any attempt to resolve a complaint using local resolution shall be disqualified for appointment under any provision of these Regulations to investigate that complaint, or to assist with the carrying out of the investigation of that complaint.