Assessment of conduct
12.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6) the appropriate authority shall assess whether the conduct which is the subject matter of the allegation, if proved, would amount to misconduct or gross misconduct or neither.
(2) Where the appropriate authority assesses that the conduct, if proved, would amount to neither misconduct nor gross misconduct, it may—
(a)take no action;
(b)take management action against the officer concerned; or
(c)refer the matter to be dealt with under the Performance Regulations.
(3) Where the appropriate authority assesses that the conduct, if proved, would amount to misconduct, it shall determine whether or not it is necessary for the matter to be investigated and—
(a)if so, the matter shall be investigated and the appropriate authority shall further determine whether, if the matter were to be referred to misconduct proceedings, those would be likely to be a misconduct meeting or a misconduct hearing;
(b)if not, the appropriate authority may—
(i)take no action; or
(ii)take management action against the officer concerned.
(4) Where the appropriate authority determines that the conduct, if proved, would amount to gross misconduct, the matter shall be investigated.
(5) At any time before the start of misconduct proceedings, the appropriate authority may revise its assessment of the conduct under paragraph (1) if it considers it appropriate to do so.
(6) Where the appropriate authority decides under this regulation to take no action, take management action or to refer the matter to be dealt with under the Performance Regulations, it shall so notify the officer concerned in writing as soon as practicable.