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PART 5Third stage

Arrangement of a third stage meeting without a prior first or second stage meeting

31.—(1) Where the appropriate authority has informed the officer concerned under regulation 30(2) that he is required to attend a third stage meeting, the appropriate authority shall as soon as reasonably practicable give to the officer concerned a notice in writing—

(a)referring to the requirement on the officer concerned to attend a third stage meeting of the unsatisfactory performance procedures with a panel appointed by the appropriate authority;

(b)informing him of the procedures for determining the date and time of the meeting under regulation 36;

(c)summarising the reasons why his performance is considered to constitute gross incompetence;

(d)informing him of the possible outcomes of the meeting;

(e)informing him that a human resources professional and a police officer may attend the meeting to advise the panel on the proceedings;

(f)informing him that a relevant lawyer may attend the meeting to advise the panel on the proceedings and on any question of law that may arise at the meeting;

(g)where the officer concerned is a special constable, informing him that a special constable shall attend the meeting to act as an advisor to the panel;

(h)in a case to which regulation 38 applies, informing him that the Commission may attend the meeting to make representations;

(i)in a case to which regulation 39 applies, informing him that the complainant or any interested person may attend the meeting as an observer;

(j)in a case to which regulation 40(5) applies, informing him that a person nominated by the Commission may attend the meeting as an observer;

(k)informing him that, if he consents, any other person specified in the notice may attend the meeting;

(l)in a case to which regulation 40(10) applies, informing him that the Commission may direct that the whole or part of the meeting be held in public;

(m)where the officer concerned is a member of a police force, informing him that he may seek advice from a representative of his staff association;

(n)informing him of the effect of regulation 6; and

(o)informing him that he may be accompanied at the meeting by a police friend.

(2) Such notice shall be accompanied by a copy of—

(a)any document relied upon by the appropriate authority when it formed the view referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of regulation 30(1), in a case where regulation 30 applies by virtue of that sub-paragraph; or

(b)subject to the harm test in regulation 4(3), the investigator’s written report under paragraph 22 of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act and the recommendation of the Commission under paragraph 27(3) of that Schedule, in a case where regulation 30 applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) or (c).