The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020

Attendance of officer concerned at misconduct proceedings

37.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the officer concerned must attend the misconduct proceedings.

(2) Where the officer concerned informs the person conducting or chairing the misconduct proceedings in advance that the officer is unable to attend on grounds which the person conducting or chairing those proceedings considers reasonable, that person may allow the officer to participate in the proceedings by video link or other means.

(3) Where under paragraph (2) the officer concerned is allowed to and does so participate in the misconduct proceedings, or where the officer otherwise does not attend the misconduct proceedings—

(a) the officer may nonetheless be represented at those proceedings by —

(i) a police friend, or

(ii) in the case of a misconduct hearing, a relevant lawyer (in which case the police friend may also attend), and

(b) the proceedings may be proceeded with and concluded in the absence of the officer whether or not the officer is so represented.

(4) Where the officer concerned is represented in accordance with paragraph (3), the police friend or relevant lawyer of the officer, or both, as the case may be, may participate using the video link or other means where such means are also used by the officer.