57.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the officer concerned must attend the accelerated misconduct hearing.
(2) Where the officer concerned informs the person conducting or chairing the accelerated misconduct hearing in advance that the officer is unable to attend on grounds which the person conducting or chairing the hearing considers reasonable, that person may allow the officer to participate in the hearing by video link or other means.
(3) Where under paragraph (2) the officer concerned is allowed to and does so participate in the accelerated misconduct hearing, or where the officer otherwise does not attend the accelerated misconduct hearing—
(a)the officer may nonetheless be represented at that hearing by—
(i)a police friend, or
(ii)a relevant lawyer (in which case the police friend may also attend), and
(b)the hearing may be proceeded with and concluded in the absence of the officer whether or not the officer is so represented.
(4) Where the officer concerned is represented in accordance with paragraph (3), the police friend or relevant lawyer of the officer, or both, as the case may be, may participate using the video link or other means where such means are also used by the officer.