21.—(1) On completion of the investigation, the investigator must as soon as practicable submit a written report on the investigation to the appropriate authority.
(2) The written report must—
(a)provide an accurate summary of the evidence;
(b)attach or refer to any relevant documents;
(c)indicate the investigator's opinion as to whether there is a case to answer in respect of misconduct or gross misconduct or whether there is no case to answer, and
(d)where the investigator's opinion under sub-paragraph (c) is that there is no case to answer, indicate the investigator's opinion as to whether the matter should be referred to be dealt with under the Performance Regulations or the reflective practice review process.
(3) If at any time during the investigation the investigator believes that the appropriate authority would, on consideration of the matter, be likely to determine that the special conditions are satisfied, the investigator must, whether or not the investigation is complete, submit to the appropriate authority—
(a)a statement of the investigator's belief and the grounds for it, and
(b)a written report on the investigation to that point.
(4) If at any time during the investigation the investigator believes that, in light of evidence made available to the investigator that was not available to the appropriate authority when it made its severity assessment or any revised severity assessment under regulation 14, the appropriate authority would, on further consideration of the matter, be likely to determine that the conduct which is the subject matter of the allegation, if proved, would amount to neither misconduct nor gross misconduct, the investigator must, whether or not the investigation is complete, submit to the appropriate authority—
(a)a statement of the investigator's belief and the grounds for it;
(b)a written report on the investigation to that point, and
(c)a statement of the investigator's opinion as to whether the matter should be referred to be dealt with under the Performance Regulations or the reflective practice review process.
(5) Where a report is submitted to the appropriate authority under paragraph (4), the appropriate authority must make a further severity assessment under regulation 14.
(6) If the appropriate authority assesses that the conduct if proved would amount to misconduct or gross misconduct, the investigator must continue to proceed with the investigation that has been commenced.
(7) If the appropriate authority makes an assessment other than that the conduct if proved would amount to misconduct or gross misconduct—
(a)the case must be dealt with in accordance with regulation 14;
(b)the investigation must be promptly concluded;
(c)the appropriate authority must as soon as practicable and in addition to any notice required under regulation 14(7), give the officer concerned notice in writing that—
(i)the notice given to the officer under regulation 17(1) has been withdrawn and no further action will be taken pursuant to that notice, and
(ii)the investigation has been concluded.
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 21 in force at 1.2.2020, see reg. 1