Part 1Police

Chapter 2Complaints and misconduct

Supervision of complaints

34F1Meaning of “relevant complaint”

(1)

In this Chapter, “relevant complaint” means a complaint which is F2made, given or sent by any of the persons mentioned in subsection (6) to the appropriate authority in relation to the complaint.

(2)

In subsection (1), “complaint” means a F3statement (whether oral, written or electronic) expressing dissatisfaction about an act or omission—

F4(a)

by the Authority;

(b)

by the Police Service; or

(f)

by a person who, at the time of the act or omission, was a person serving with the police.

F5(2A)

A “complaint” may relate to—

(a)

any action taken, or failed to be taken, by or on behalf of the subject of the complaint;

(b)

the standard of any service which the subject of the complaint has provided or failed to provide.

(3)

But “ complaint ” does not include—

(a)

any statement made by a person serving with, or who has served with, the police, about the terms and conditions of that person's service with the police; or

F6(aa)

any statement made by a person serving with the police about an act or omission mentioned in subsection (3A);

(b)

a statement which consists of or includes an allegation of an act or omission which constitutes a crime.

F7(3A)

An act or omission referred to in subsection (3)(aa) is one which—

(a)

took place in relation to, or adversely affected, the person in the person’s capacity as a person serving with the police, or

(b)

was witnessed by the person (whether or not in that capacity).

(4)

An act or omission need not be one occurring in the course of a person's duty, employment or appointment (as the case may be) in order to fall within subsection (2)(f).

(5)

A complaint need not identify a person serving with the police who is the subject of the complaint in order to fall within subsection (2)(f).

(6)

The persons referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a)

a F8person who claims to be the person in relation to whom the act or omission took place;

(b)

a F8person not falling within paragraph (a) who claims to have been adversely affected by the act or omission;

(c)

a F8person who claims to have witnessed the act or omission;

(d)

a person acting on behalf of a person falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c).

F9 (7)

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