Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020 & Schedule 3 of Police Reform Act 2002

The Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020 apply when the chief officer is made aware of a complaint about a person under their direction and control. A complaint is defined as an expression of dissatisfaction by a member of the public about the conduct of a person serving with the police.

The regulations set out which complaints and misconduct matters should be recorded and which should be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). In the case of a complaint, a recorded misconduct matter, or a death or serious injury matter, the IOPC may manage the investigation itself or supervise an investigation managed by an appropriate authority. The regulations set out how supervision of proceedings by the IOPC will be conducted.

Where an appropriate authority decides that it is not reasonable and proportionate to investigate a recorded complaint, and it is not required to investigate, the complaint must be handled under Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002 otherwise than by investigation. Reflective practice (as opposed to the Reflective Practice Review Process under the Conduct Regulations) may be used to handle such a complaint or it may be decided to take no further action.

Reflective Practice Review Process (RPRP)