Police Reform Act 2002

Power of the Commission to discontinue an investigation

21 (1) If it any time appears to the Commission (whether on an application by the appropriate authority or otherwise) that a complaint or matter that is being investigated—

(a) by the appropriate authority on its own behalf, or

(b) under the supervision or management of the Commission,

is of a description of complaint or matter specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the Commission may by order require the discontinuance of the investigation.

(2) The Commission shall not discontinue any investigation that is being carried out in accordance with paragraph 19 except in such cases as may be authorised by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(3) Where the Commission makes an order under this paragraph or discontinues an investigation being carried out in accordance with paragraph 19, it shall give notification of the discontinuance—

(a) to the appropriate authority;

(b) to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the subject matter of the investigation under section 21; and

(c) in a case where the investigation that is discontinued is an investigation of a complaint, to the complainant.

(4) Where an investigation of a complaint or recordable conduct matter is discontinued in accordance with this paragraph—

(a) the Commission may give the appropriate authority directions to do any such things as it is authorised to direct by regulations made by the Secretary of State;

(b) the Commission may itself take any such steps of a description specified in regulations so made as it considers appropriate for purposes connected with the discontinuance of the investigation; and

(c) subject to the preceding paragraphs, neither the appropriate authority nor the Commission shall take any further action in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule in relation to that complaint or matter.

(5) The appropriate authority shall comply with any directions given to it under sub-paragraph (4).