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Part 2 U.K.Complaints and Misconduct

Interpretation of Part 2U.K.

29 Interpretation of Part 2U.K.

(1)In this Part—

[F3(1A)In this Part “the relevant officer”, in relation to a DSI matter, means the person serving with the police (within the meaning of section 12(7))—

(a)who arrested the person who has died or suffered serious injury,

(b)in whose custody that person was at the time of the death or serious injury, or

(c)with whom that person had the contact in question;

and where there is more than one such person it means, subject to subsection (1B), the one who so dealt with him last before the death or serious injury occurred.

(1B)Where it cannot be determined which of two or more persons serving with the police dealt with a person last before a death or serious injury occurred, the relevant officer is the most senior of them.]

(2)References in this Part, in relation to anything which is or purports to be a complaint, to the complainant are references—

(a)except in the case of anything which is or purports to be a complaint falling within section 12(1)(d), to the person by whom the complaint or purported complaint was made; and

(b)in that case, to the person on whose behalf the complaint or purported complaint was made;

but where any person is acting on another’s behalf for the purposes of any complaint or purported complaint, anything that is to be or may be done under this Part by or in relation to the complainant may be done, instead, by or in relation to the person acting on the complainant’s behalf.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), references in this Part, in relation to any conduct or anything purporting to be a complaint about any conduct, to a member of the public include references to any person falling within any of the following paragraphs (whether at the time of the conduct or at any subsequent time)—

(a)a person serving with the police;

[F4(b)a member of the staff of the Serious Organised Crime Agency;]

(c)a member of the staff of the [F5National Policing Improvement Agency] ; or

(d)a person engaged on relevant service, within the meaning of section 97(1)(a)F6. . . or (d) of the 1996 Act [F7(temporary service of various kinds)] .

(4)In this Part references, in relation to any conduct or to anything purporting to be a complaint about any conduct, to a member of the public do not include references to—

(a)a person who, at the time when the conduct is supposed to have taken place, was under the direction and control of the same chief officer as the person whose conduct it was; or

(b)a person who—

(i)at the time when the conduct is supposed to have taken place, in relation to him, or

(ii)at the time when he is supposed to have been adversely affected by it, or to have witnessed it,

was on duty in his capacity as a person falling within subsection (3)(a) to (d).

(5)For the purposes of this Part a person is adversely affected if he suffers any form of loss or damage, distress or inconvenience, if he is put in danger or if he is otherwise unduly put at risk of being adversely affected.

(6)References in this Part to the investigation of any complaint or matter by the appropriate authority on its own behalf, under the supervision of the Commission, under the management of the Commission or by the Commission itself shall be construed as references to its investigation in accordance with paragraph 16, 17, 18 or, as the case may be, 19 of Schedule 3.

(7)The Commissioner of Police for the City of London shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as if he were a member of the City of London police force.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 29(1): definition of "the appropriate authority" substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(a); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

F2S. 29(1): definition of "death or serious injury matter" and "DSI matter" inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(b); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

F5Words in s. 29(3)(c) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 1, 53, Sch. 1 para. 88; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(a) (subject to arts. 6, 7)

F6Word in s. 29(3)(d) repealed (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 15 Pt. 1(A); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(q) (subject to arts. 6, 7)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)