PART 5

ENFORCEMENT OF STANDARDS
CHAPTER 6

REVIEW BY THE COMPLAINANT

Review of Commissioner's failure to investigate a complaint

P's right of review
103
1
This section applies if P makes a complaint to the Commissioner under section 93 about D's conduct (“the alleged conduct”), whether or not that complaint is a valid complaint under that section.
2
P may, with the permission of the Tribunal, apply to the Tribunal to review the decision of the Commissioner in any of the cases specified in this section.
3
The Tribunal must, subject to section 104, deal with an application for such a review as if it were an application for judicial review made to the High Court.
4
The Tribunal must give permission to apply where the Tribunal considers that—
a
the application would have a reasonable prospect of success, or
b
there is some other compelling reason why the application should be heard.
5
The first case referred to in subsection (2) is where—
a
the duty under section 93 to consider whether to carry out an investigation of the alleged conduct applies, and
b
the Commissioner decides not to carry out an investigation.
6
The second case is where—
a
section 93(7) applies in relation to a complaint, and
b
the Commissioner decides not to consider whether to carry out an investigation of the alleged conduct.
7
The third case is where the Commissioner decides that the duty under section 93 to consider whether to carry out an investigation of the alleged conduct does not apply.
8
The fourth case is where—
a
the duty under section 93 to consider whether to carry out an investigation of the alleged conduct does not apply, and
b
the Commissioner decides not to consider whether to carry out an investigation of the alleged conduct under section 93(8) or, having considered whether to carry out an investigation under that section, decides not to carry out the investigation.
9
The fifth case is where—
a
the Commissioner decides to carry out an investigation, and
b
the Commissioner then decides to discontinue the investigation.
10
An application under subsection (2) must be made before the end of the relevant 28 day period.
11
But the Tribunal may, on a written application by P, allow an application under subsection (2) to be made after the end of that period if the Tribunal is satisfied that there is a good reason—
a
for the failure to apply before the end of that period, and
b
if there has been any delay in applying for permission to apply out of time, for that delay.
12
An application under subsection (11) may be made before or after the end of the relevant 28 day period.
13
The Tribunal must notify P and the Commissioner of its decision on an application made under subsection (2).
14
This section is subject to Tribunal Rules (which may, amongst other things, make provision about the manner in which applications under this section may be brought).
15
In this Chapter “relevant 28 day period” means the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the Commissioner gave P notice of his or her decision under section 94.
S. 103 in force at 7.7.2015 by S.I. 2015/1413, art. 3(c)