31.—(1) The first line manager of a constable who has received a final improvement notice must assess the constable’s performance—
(a)at the end of the final improvement period specified in that notice; and
(b)during any part of the validity period specified in that notice which continues after the end of the final improvement period.
(2) The first line manager must inform the constable in writing as to whether, in the first line manager’s opinion—
(a)there has been a sufficient improvement in the constable’s performance by the end of the final improvement period; and
(b)that improvement has been maintained until the end of the validity period.
(3) If the first line manager is of the opinion that there has been a sufficient improvement in the constable’s performance by the end of the final improvement period, the first line manager must remind the constable of the need to maintain that improvement until the end of the validity period.
(4) If the first line manager is of the opinion that—
(a)the constable has failed to make the required improvement in performance by the end of the final improvement period; or
(b)where the required improvement in performance has been made by the end of that period, that improvement has not been maintained until the end of the validity period,
the first line manager must refer the constable to a performance hearing to consider the constable’s performance.
(5) A performance hearing may only consider unsatisfactory performance which is similar to or connected with the unsatisfactory performance referred to in the final improvement notice.