The Police (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Reference of other matters to Commission

20.—(1) The appropriate authority may refer to the Commission any matter which—

(a)appears to the appropriate authority to indicate that a member of the police force may have—

(i)committed a criminal offence; or

(ii)behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings; and

(b)is not the subject of a complaint,

if it appears to the appropriate authority that it ought to be referred by reason—

(i)of its gravity; or

(ii)of exceptional circumstances.

(2) The appropriate authority shall refer to the Commission any matter which appears to the appropriate authority to indicate that conduct of a member of the police force may have resulted in the death of some other person.

(3) The Secretary of State or the Police Authority may refer to the Commission any matter which—

(a)appears to the Secretary of State or the Authority to indicate that a member of the police force may have—

(i)committed a criminal offence; or

(ii)behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings; and

(b)is not the subject of a complaint,

if it appears to the Secretary of State or the Authority that it is desirable in the public interest that the Commission should supervise the investigation of the matter.

(4) The Commission may draw to the attention of the Secretary of State any matter in relation to which it appears to the Commission to be appropriate for the Secretary of State to exercise his powers under paragraph (3).