(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These regulations provide for the informal resolution of complaints against police officers in accordance with Section 53 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. Informal resolution is intended to provide a flexible and simple procedure for dealing with complaints of a minor nature which would otherwise attract the extensive and rigorous process of formal investigation. This is a procedure, which in many circumstances, is the most appropriate way to deal with a complaint to the satisfaction of the complainant.
For Senior Officers, that is officers of the rank of Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable, the Police Authority shall appoint a member for the purpose of informal resolution. For other officers, the Chief Constable, shall appoint a member for the purpose of informal resolution.
By regulation 3 the regulations apply only to complaints received by the Ombudsman on or after 6th November 2000.
Regulation 4 sets out the procedure for informal resolution.
Regulation 5(1) requires a record to be kept of the outcome of the procedure and enables the complainant to obtain a copy of the record; 5(2) ensures that the Ombudsman is supplied with copies of complaints dealt with by way of informal resolution together with a record of their outcome.