Police Reform Act 2002

Duties with respect to disciplinary proceedings

27(1)This paragraph applies where, in the case of any investigation, the appropriate authority—

(a)has given, or is required to give, a notification under paragraph 24(7) of the action it is proposing to take in relation to the matters dealt with in any report of the investigation; or

(b)has submitted, or is required to submit, a memorandum to the Commission under paragraph 23 or 25 setting out the action that it is proposing to take in relation to those matters.

(2)Subject to paragraph 20 and to any recommendations or directions under the following provisions of this paragraph, it shall be the duty of the appropriate authority—

(a)to take the action which has been or is required to be notified or, as the case may be, which is or is required to be set out in the memorandum; and

(b)in a case where that action consists of or includes the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, to secure that those proceedings, once brought, are proceeded with to a proper conclusion.

(3)Where this paragraph applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b), the Commission may make a recommendation to the appropriate authority in respect of any person serving with the police—

(a)that disciplinary proceedings, or such disciplinary proceedings as may be specified in the recommendation, are brought against that person in respect of the conduct which was the subject-matter of the investigation; or

(b)that any disciplinary proceedings brought against that person are modified so as to include such charges as may be so specified;

and it shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to notify the Commission whether it accepts the recommendation and (if it does) to set out in the notification the steps that it is proposing to take to give effect to it.

(4)If, after the Commission has made a recommendation under this paragraph, the appropriate authority does not take steps to secure that full effect is given to the recommendation—

(a)the Commission may direct the appropriate authority to take steps for that purpose; and

(b)it shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to comply with the direction.

(5)A direction under sub-paragraph (4) may, to such extent as the Commission thinks fit, set out the steps to be taken by the appropriate authority in order to give effect to the recommendation.

(6)Where the Commission gives the appropriate authority a direction under this paragraph, it shall supply the appropriate authority with a statement of its reasons for doing so.

(7)Where disciplinary proceedings have been brought in accordance with a recommendation or direction under this paragraph, it shall be the duty of the authority to ensure that they are proceeded with to a proper conclusion.

(8)The Commission may at any time withdraw a direction given under this paragraph; and sub-paragraph (7) shall not impose any obligation in relation to any time after the withdrawal of the direction.

(9)The appropriate authority shall keep the Commission informed—

(a)in a case in which this paragraph applies by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b), of whatever action it takes in pursuance of its duty under sub-paragraph (2); and

(b)in every case of a recommendation or direction under this paragraph, of whatever action it takes in response to that recommendation or direction.