The Service Police (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2023

Exceptions to duties to keep the complainant and interested person informed

80.—(1) The exceptions to the duties imposed by regulations 77(7) and 78(12) are where in the opinion of the Commissioner or appropriate authority (as the case may be) the non-disclosure of information is necessary for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (2).

(2) The purposes are—

(a) preventing the premature or inappropriate disclosure of information that is relevant to, or may be used in, any actual or prospective disciplinary or criminal proceedings;

(b) preventing the disclosure of information in any circumstances in which its non-disclosure—

(i) is in the interests of national security;

(ii) is for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime, or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders;

(iii) is required on proportionality grounds; or

(iv) is otherwise necessary in the public interest.

(3) The Commissioner or appropriate authority (as the case may be) may only conclude that the non-disclosure of information is necessary under paragraph (1) if satisfied that—

(a) there is a real risk of the disclosure of that information causing an adverse effect, and

(b) that adverse effect would be significant.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b)(iii), the non-disclosure of information is required on proportionality grounds if its disclosure would cause, directly or indirectly, an adverse effect which would be disproportionate to the benefit arising from its disclosure.

(5) The Commissioner or appropriate authority (as the case may be) must consider whether the non-disclosure of information is justified under paragraph (2) in circumstances where—

(a) that information is relevant to, or may be used in, any actual or prospective administrative action procedures;

(b) the disclosure of that information may lead to the contamination of the evidence of witnesses during such procedures;

(c) the disclosure of that information might prejudice the welfare or safety of any third party;

(d) that information constitutes criminal intelligence.