Procedure at first stage meeting
14.—(1) The following provisions of this regulation apply to the procedure to be followed at the first stage meeting.
(2) The meeting is to be conducted by the line manager.
(3) A human resources professional or a police officer may attend the meeting to advise the line manager on the proceedings.
(4) Any other person specified in the notice referred to in regulation 13(1) may attend the meeting if the officer concerned consents to such attendance.
(5) The line manager must—
(a)explain to the officer concerned the reasons why the line manager considers that the performance or attendance of the officer concerned is unsatisfactory;
(b)provide the officer concerned with an opportunity to make representations in response;
(c)provide the police friend (if there is one) with an opportunity to address the meeting in accordance with regulation 8(3)(a).
(6) If, after considering any representations made in accordance with paragraph (5)(b) or (c), the line manager finds that the performance or attendance of the officer concerned has been unsatisfactory, the manager must—
(a)inform the officer concerned in what respect their performance or attendance is considered unsatisfactory;
(b)inform the officer concerned of the improvement that is required in their performance or attendance;
(c)inform the officer concerned that, if a sufficient improvement is not made within such reasonable period as the line manager specifies (being a period not greater than 12 months), the officer may be required to attend a second stage meeting in accordance with regulation 19 and the line manager must specify the date on which this period ends;
(d)inform the officer concerned that they will receive a written improvement notice; and
(e)inform the officer concerned that if the sufficient improvement referred to in sub-paragraph (c) is not maintained during any part of the validity period of such notice remaining after the expiry of the period specified in accordance with sub-paragraph (c), the officer may be required to attend a second stage meeting in accordance with regulation 19.
(7) The line manager may recommend that the officer concerned seeks assistance in relation to any matter affecting their health or welfare if the manager considers it appropriate.
(8) The line manager may postpone or adjourn the meeting to a specified later time or date if it appears to them to be necessary or expedient to do so.