Explanatory Notes

Police Reform Act 2002

2002 CHAPTER 30

24 July 2002

The Act

Commentary on Sections

Schedule 3Part 1: Handling of complaints

Paragraph 3: Failures to notify or record a complaint

70.Under the provisions of the 1996 Act, failure or refusal to record a complaint was a major source of concern for complainants and for observers and there was no redress. The new system places a duty on a chief officer or a police authority, as the case may be, to advise the complainant of the reasons for not recording a complaint and of his right of appeal to the Commission against that decision.