Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15)

(The document as of February, 2008)

-- Back --

Page 21

Pages: P.1 | P.2 | P.3 | P.4 | P.5 | P.6 | P.7 | P.8 | P.9 | P.10 | P.11 | P.12 | P.13 | P.14 | P.15 | P.16 | P.17 | P.18 | P.19 | P.20 | P.21 | P.22 | P.23 | P.24

he is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(7) Proceedings in respect of an offence under paragraph (6) may, despite anything in Article 19 of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (limitation of time), be commenced at any time within two years from the date of the commission of the offence or within six months of its first discovery by the applicant, whichever period expires earlier.

(8) Paragraphs (1)(e) and (4) to (7) do not apply in the case of an order specifying an authority as liable to pay the compensation.

36ZC Parental compensation orders: supplemental

(1) Before deciding whether or not to make a parental compensation order in favour of any person, the magistrates' court shall take into account the views of that person about whether a parental compensation order should be made in his favour.

(2) Before making a parental compensation order, the magistrates' court shall obtain and consider information about the child's family circumstances and the likely effect of the order on those circumstances.

(3) Before making a parental compensation order, a magistrates' court shall explain to the parent or guardian of the child in ordinary language--

(a) the effect of the order and of the requirements proposed to be included in it;

(b) the consequences which may follow (under paragraph (4)(b)) as a result of failure to comply with any of those requirements;

(c) that the court has power (under paragraph (4)(a)) to review the order on the application either of the parent or guardian or of the applicant.

(4) A magistrates' court which has made a parental compensation order may make an order under paragraph (5) if while the order is in force--

(a) it appears to the court, on the application of the applicant, or the parent or guardian subject to the order, that it is appropriate to make an order under paragraph (5); or

(b) it is proved to the satisfaction of the court, on the application of the applicant, that the parent or guardian subject to it has failed to comply with any requirement included in the order.

(5) An order under this paragraph is an order discharging the parental compensation order or varying it--

(a) by cancelling any provision included in it; or

(b) by inserting in it (either in addition to or in substitution for any of its provisions) any provision that could have been included in the order if the court had then had power to make it and were exercising the power.

(6) Where an application under paragraph (4) for the discharge of a parental compensation order is dismissed, no further application for its discharge shall be made under that paragraph by any person except with the consent of the court which made the order.

(7) References in this Article to the magistrates' court which made a parental compensation order include any magistrates' court acting for the same county court division as that court.

36ZD Parental compensation orders: appeal

(1) If a magistrates' court makes a parental compensation order, the parent or guardian may appeal against the making of the order, or against the amount of compensation specified in the order.

(2) The appeal lies to the county court.

(3) On the appeal the county court--

(a) may make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to its determination of the appeal;

(b) may also make such incidental or consequential orders as appear to it to be just.

(4) Any order of the county court made on an appeal under this Article (other than one directing that an application be re-heard by a magistrates' court) shall, for the purposes of Article 36ZC, be treated as if it were an order of the magistrates' court from which the appeal was brought and not an order of the county court.

(5) A person in whose favour a parental compensation order is made shall not be entitled to receive any compensation under it until (disregarding any power of a court to grant leave to appeal out of time) there is no further possibility of an appeal on which the order could be varied or set aside.

36ZE Effect of parental compensation order on subsequent award of damages in civil proceedings

(1) This Article has effect where--

(a) a parental compensation order has been made in favour of any person in respect of any taking or loss of property or damage to it; and

(b) a claim by him in civil proceedings for damages in respect of the taking, loss or damage is then to be determined.

(2) The damages in the civil proceedings shall be assessed without regard to the parental compensation order, but the claimant may recover only an amount equal to the aggregate of the following--

(a) any amount by which they exceed the compensation; and

(b) a sum equal to any portion of the compensation which he fails to recover.

(3) The claimant may not enforce the judgment, so far as it relates to such a sum as is mentioned in paragraph (2)(b), without the leave of the court. "

9 In Article 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (2), in the appropriate place insert--

" "parental compensation order" has the meaning given by Article 36ZA(1); " .

10 The amendments made by paragraph 8 of this Schedule do not apply in relation to any conduct which occurred before the coming into force of that paragraph.

Section 159

SCHEDULE 11 Investigations into conduct of police officers: accelerated procedure in special cases

1 Schedule 3 to the Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30) is amended as follows.

2 In paragraph 20(1)--

(a) for "until" substitute " until--

(a) the appropriate authority has certified the case as a special case under paragraph 20B(3) or 20E(3), or " ; and

(b) the words from "a report" to the end become paragraph (b).

3 After paragraph 20 insert--

" Accelerated procedure in special cases

20A (1) If, at any time before the completion of his investigation, a person appointed or designated to investigate a complaint or recordable conduct matter believes that the appropriate authority would, on consideration of the matter, be likely to consider that the special conditions are satisfied, he shall proceed in accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.

(2) If the person was appointed under paragraph 16, he shall submit to the appropriate authority--

(a) a statement of his belief and the grounds for it; and

(b) a written report on his investigation to that point;

and if he was appointed following a determination made by the Commission under paragraph 15 he shall send a copy of the statement and the report to the Commission.

(3) If the person was appointed under paragraph 17 or 18 or designated under paragraph 19, he shall submit to the appropriate authority--

(a) a statement of his belief and the grounds for it; and

(b) a written report on his investigation to that point;

and shall send a copy of the statement and the report to the Commission.

(4) A person submitting a report under this paragraph shall not be prevented by any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise from including all such matters in his report as he thinks fit.

(5) A statement and report may be submitted under this paragraph whether or not a previous statement and report have been submitted; but a second or subsequent statement and report may be submitted only if the person submitting them has grounds to believe that the appropriate authority will reach a different determination under paragraph 20B(2) or 20E(2).

(6) After submitting a report under this paragraph, the person appointed or designated to investigate the complaint or recordable conduct matter shall continue his investigation to such extent as he considers appropriate.

(7) The special conditions are that--

(a) the person whose conduct is the subject matter of the investigation may have committed an imprisonable offence and that person's conduct is of a serious nature;

(b) there is sufficient evidence, in the form of written statements or other documents, to establish on the balance of probabilities that conduct justifying dismissal took place; and

(c) it is in the public interest for the person whose conduct is the subject matter of the investigation to cease to be a member of a police force, or to be a special constable, without delay.

(8) In sub-paragraph (7)--

(a) in paragraph (a), "imprisonable offence" means an offence which is punishable with imprisonment in the case of a person aged 21 or over; and

(b) in paragraph (b), "conduct justifying dismissal" means conduct which is so serious that disciplinary proceedings brought in respect of it would be likely to result in a dismissal.

(9) In paragraphs 20B to 20H "special report" means a report submitted under this paragraph.

Investigations managed or carried out by Commission: action by appropriate authority

20B (1) This paragraph applies where --

(a) a statement and special report on an investigation carried out under the management of the Commission, or

(b) a statement and special report on an investigation carried out by a person designated by the Commission,

are submitted to the appropriate authority under paragraph 20A(3).

(2) The appropriate authority shall determine whether the special conditions are satisfied.

(3) If the appropriate authority determines that the special conditions are satisfied then, unless it considers that the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate to do so, it shall--

(a) certify the case as a special case for the purposes of Regulation 11 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/645); and

(b) subject to any request made under paragraph 20G(1), take such steps as are required by that Regulation in relation to a case so certified.

(4) The reference in sub-paragraph (3) to Regulation 11 includes a reference to any corresponding provision replacing that Regulation.

(5) If the appropriate authority determines that the special conditions are satisfied then it shall notify the Director of Public Prosecutions of its determination and send him a copy of the special report.

(6) The appropriate authority shall notify the Commission of a certification under sub-paragraph (3).

(7) If the appropriate authority determines--

(a) that the special conditions are not satisfied, or

(b) that, although those conditions are satisfied, the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate at present to bring disciplinary proceedings,

it shall submit to the Commission a memorandum under this sub-paragraph.

(8) The memorandum required to be submitted under sub-paragraph (7) is one which--

(a) notifies the Commission of its determination that those conditions are not satisfied or (as the case may be) that they are so satisfied but the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate at present to bring disciplinary proceedings; and

(b) (in either case) sets out its reasons for so determining.

(9) In this paragraph "special conditions" has the meaning given by paragraph 20A(7).

Investigations managed or carried out by Commission: action by Commission

20C (1) On receipt of a notification under paragraph 20B(6), the Commission shall give a notification--

(a) in the case of a complaint, to the complainant and to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

(2) The notification required by sub-paragraph (1) is one setting out--

(a) the findings of the special report;

(b) the appropriate authority's determination under paragraph 20B(2); and

(3) Subsections (5) to (7) of section 20 shall have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the Commission by sub-paragraph (1) as they have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the Commission by that section.

(4) Except so far as may be otherwise provided by regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (3), the Commission shall be entitled (notwithstanding any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise) to discharge the duty to give a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) notification of the findings of the special report by sending that person a copy of that report.

20D (1) On receipt of a memorandum under paragraph 20B(7), the Commission shall--

(a) consider the memorandum;

(b) determine, in the light of that consideration, whether or not to make a recommendation under paragraph 20H; and

(2) If the Commission determines not to make a recommendation under paragraph 20H, it shall notify the appropriate authority and the person appointed under paragraph 18 or designated under paragraph 19 of its determination.

Other investigations: action by appropriate authority

20E (1) This paragraph applies where--

(a) a statement and a special report on an investigation carried out by an appropriate authority on its own behalf, or

(b) a statement and a special report on an investigation carried out under the supervision of the Commission,

are submitted to the appropriate authority under paragraph 20A(2) or (3).

(2) The appropriate authority shall determine whether the special conditions are satisfied.

(3) If the appropriate authority determines that the special conditions are satisfied then, unless it considers that the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate to do so, it shall--

(a) certify the case as a special case for the purposes of Regulation 11 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/645); and

(b) subject to any request made under paragraph 20G(1), take such steps as are required by that Regulation in relation to a case so certified.

(4) The reference in sub-paragraph (3) to Regulation 11 includes a reference to any corresponding provision replacing that Regulation.

(6) Where the statement and report were required under paragraph 20A(2) to be copied to the Commission, the appropriate authority shall notify the Commission of a certification under sub-paragraph (3).

(7) If the appropriate authority determines--

(a) that the special conditions are not satisfied, or

(b) that, although those conditions are satisfied, the circumstances are such as to make it inappropriate at present to bring disciplinary proceedings,

it shall notify the person appointed under paragraph 16 or 17 of its determination.

(8) In this paragraph "special conditions" has the meaning given by paragraph 20A(7).

20F (1) If the appropriate authority certifies a case under paragraph 20E(3), it shall give a notification--

(a) in the case of a complaint, to the complainant and to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

(2) The notification required by sub-paragraph (1) is one setting out--

(a) the findings of the report;

(b) the authority's determination under paragraph 20E(2); and

(3) Subsections (5) to (7) of section 20 shall have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the appropriate authority by sub-paragraph (1) as they have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the appropriate authority by that section.

(4) Except so far as may be otherwise provided by regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (3), the appropriate authority shall be entitled (notwithstanding any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise) to discharge the duty to give a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) notification of the findings of the special report by sending that person a copy of that report.

Special cases: Director of Public Prosecutions

20G (1) On receiving a copy of a special report under paragraph 20B(5) or 20E(5), the Director of Public Prosecutions may request the appropriate authority not to bring disciplinary proceedings without his prior agreement, if the Director considers that bringing such proceedings might prejudice any future criminal proceedings.

(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions--

(a) shall notify the appropriate authority of any decision of his to take, or not to take, action in respect of the matters dealt with in a special report copied to him under paragraph 20B(5) or 20E(5); and

(b) where the special report was copied to him under paragraph 20B(5), shall send a copy of that notification to the Commission.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Commission to notify the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) if criminal proceedings are brought against any person by the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of any matters dealt with in a special report copied to him under paragraph 20B(5).

(4) It shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to notify the persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) if criminal proceedings are brought against any person by the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of any matters dealt with in a special report copied to him under paragraph 20E(5).

(5) Those persons are--

(a) in the case of a complaint, the complainant and every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

Special cases: recommendation or direction of Commission

20H (1) Where the appropriate authority has submitted, or is required to submit, a memorandum to the Commission under paragraph 20B(7), the Commission may make a recommendation to the appropriate authority that it should certify the case under paragraph 20B(3).

(2) If the Commission determines to make a recommendation under this paragraph, it shall give a notification--

(a) in the case of a complaint, to the complainant and to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21; and

(b) in the case of a recordable conduct matter, to every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to that matter under that section.

(3) The notification required by sub-paragraph (2) is one setting out--

(a) the findings of the special report; and

(b) the Commission's recommendation under this paragraph.

(4) Subsections (5) to (7) of section 20 shall have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the Commission by sub-paragraph (2) as they have effect in relation to the duties imposed on the Commission by that section.

(5) Except so far as may be otherwise provided by regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (4), the Commission shall be entitled (notwithstanding any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise) to discharge the duty to give a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) notification of the findings of the special report by sending that person a copy of the report.

(6) It shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to notify the Commission whether it accepts the recommendation and (if it does) to certify the case and proceed accordingly.

(7) If, after the Commission has made a recommendation under this paragraph, the appropriate authority does not certify the case under paragraph 20B(3)--

(a) the Commission may direct the appropriate authority so to certify it; and

(b) it shall be the duty of the appropriate authority to comply with the direction and proceed accordingly.

(8) Where the Commission gives the appropriate authority a direction under this paragraph, it shall supply the appropriate authority with a statement of its reasons for doing so.

(9) The Commission may at any time withdraw a direction given under this paragraph.

(10) The appropriate authority shall keep the Commission informed of whatever action it takes in response to a recommendation or direction.

20I (1) Where--

(a) the Commission makes a recommendation under paragraph 20H in the case of an investigation of a complaint, and

(b) the appropriate authority notifies the Commission that the recommendation has been accepted,

the Commission shall notify the complainant and every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21 of that fact and of the steps that have been, or are to be, taken by the appropriate authority to give effect to it.

(2) Where in the case of an investigation of a complaint the appropriate authority--

(a) notifies the Commission that it does not accept the recommendation made by the Commission under paragraph 20H, or

(b) fails to certify the case under paragraph 20B(3) and to proceed accordingly,

it shall be the duty of the Commission to determine what (if any) further steps to take under paragraph 20H.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Commission to notify the complainant and every person entitled to be kept properly informed in relation to the complaint under section 21--

(a) of any determination under sub-paragraph (2) not to take further steps under paragraph 20H; and

(b) where it determines under that sub-paragraph to take further steps under that paragraph, of the outcome of the taking of those steps. "

4 In paragraph 25, after sub-paragraph (2) insert--

" (2A) In sub-paragraph (2)--

(a) references to the findings of an investigation do not include a reference to findings on a report submitted under paragraph 20A; and

(b) references to the report of an investigation do not include a reference to a report submitted under that paragraph. "

Section 160

SCHEDULE 12 Investigations of deaths and serious injuries during or after contact with the police

1 The Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30) has effect subject to the following amendments.

2 (1) Section 10(2) (general functions of the Commission) is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph (b) insert--

" (ba) the recording of matters from which it appears that a person has died or suffered serious injury during, or following, contact with a person serving with the police; " .

(3) In paragraph (c), after "paragraph (b)" insert "or (ba)".

3 In section 12 (matters to which Part 2 applies), after subsection (2) insert--

" (2A) In this Part "death or serious injury matter" (or "DSI matter" for short) means any circumstances (other than those which are or have been the subject of a complaint or which amount to a conduct matter)--

(a) in or in consequence of which a person has died or has sustained serious injury; and

(b) in relation to which the requirements of either subsection (2B) or subsection (2C) are satisfied.

(2B) The requirements of this subsection are that at the time of the death or serious injury the person--

(a) had been arrested by a person serving with the police and had not been released from that arrest; or

(b) was otherwise detained in the custody of a person serving with the police.

(2C) The requirements of this subsection are that--

(a) at or before the time of the death or serious injury the person had contact (of whatever kind, and whether direct or indirect) with a person serving with the police who was acting in the execution of his duties; and

(b) there is an indication that the contact may have caused (whether directly or indirectly) or contributed to the death or serious injury.

(2D) In subsection (2A) the reference to a person includes a person serving with the police, but in relation to such a person "contact" in subsection (2C) does not include contact that he has whilst acting in the execution of his duties. "

4 In the following provisions, for "and conduct matters" substitute ", conduct matters and DSI matters"--

(a) the cross-heading preceding section 13;

(b) the heading for section 13 (handling of complaints and conduct matters); and

5 (1) Section 16(2) (assistance for which payment is required) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (a), for the words from "an investigation relating to" to the end substitute--

" (i) an investigation relating to the conduct of a person who, at the time of the conduct, was a member of the other force, or

(ii) an investigation of a DSI matter in relation to which the relevant officer was, at the time of the death or serious injury, a member of the other force; and " .

(3) In paragraph (b), for the words from "an investigation" to the end substitute--

" (i) an investigation relating to the conduct of a person who, at the time of the conduct, was not a member of that force, or

(ii) an investigation of a DSI matter in relation to which the relevant officer was, at the time of the death or serious injury, not a member of that force. "

6 In section 18 (inspection of police premises on behalf of the Commission), in subsection (2)(a), after "conduct matters" insert "or DSI matters".

7 (1) Section 21 (duty to provide information) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for "or recordable conduct matter" substitute ", recordable conduct matter or DSI matter".

(3) In subsection (1)(a), after "subsection (2)" insert "or (2A)".

(4) In subsection (2), after "if" insert "(in the case of a complaint or recordable conduct matter)".

(5) After subsection (2) insert--

" (2A) A person falls within this subsection if (in the case of a DSI matter)--

(a) he is a relative of the person who has died;

(b) he is a relative of the person who has suffered serious injury and that person is incapable of making a complaint;

(6) In subsection (3)--

(a) after "subsection (2)" insert "or (2A)"; and

(b) for "or recordable conduct matter" (in both places) substitute ", recordable conduct matter or DSI matter".

(7) In subsection (5), for "or conduct matter" substitute ", conduct matter or DSI matter".

(8) In subsections (6) and (7), for "or recordable conduct matter" substitute ", recordable conduct matter or DSI matter".

(9) After subsection (9)(b) insert--

" (ba) whether the Commission or the appropriate authority has made a determination under paragraph 21A of Schedule 3; " .

(10) In subsection (9)(c), after "paragraph 22" insert "or 24A".

(11) In subsection (10), for "or recordable conduct matter" substitute ", recordable conduct matter or DSI matter".

8 (1) Section 22 (power of Commission to issue guidance) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (2)(b)(ii), after "recordable conduct matters" insert "or DSI matters".

(3) In subsection (5)--

(a) in paragraph (a), after "recordable conduct matters" insert "or DSI matters";

(b) in paragraphs (b) and (d)(ii), after "recordable conduct matter" insert "or DSI matter"; and

9 (1) Section 23(2) (regulations) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (b), after "recordable conduct matters" insert "and DSI matters".

(3) For paragraph (h) substitute--

" (h) for combining into a single investigation the investigation of any complaint, conduct matter or DSI matter with the investigation or investigations of any one or more, or any combination, of the following--

(i) complaints (whether or not relating to the same conduct),

(ii) conduct matters, or

(iii) DSI matters,

and for splitting a single investigation into two or more separate investigations; " .

(4) In paragraph (j), for "or conduct matter" substitute ", conduct matter or DSI matter".

(5) In paragraph (n)(ii), after "recordable conduct matters" insert "or DSI matters".

10 (1) Section 29 (interpretation) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)--

(a) for the definition of "the appropriate authority" substitute--

" "the appropriate authority"--

(a) in relation to a person serving with the police or in relation to any complaint, conduct matter or investigation relating to the conduct of such a person, means--

(i)

if that person is a senior officer, the police authority for the area of the police force of which he is a member; and

(ii)

if he is not a senior officer, the chief officer under whose direction and control he is; and

(b) in relation to a death or serious injury matter, means--

(i)

if the relevant officer is a senior officer, the police authority for the area of the police force of which he is a member; and

(ii)

if he is not a senior officer, the chief officer under whose direction and control he is; " ; and

(b) after the definition of "conduct matter" insert--

Pages: P.1 | P.2 | P.3 | P.4 | P.5 | P.6 | P.7 | P.8 | P.9 | P.10 | P.11 | P.12 | P.13 | P.14 | P.15 | P.16 | P.17 | P.18 | P.19 | P.20 | P.21 | P.22 | P.23 | P.24

-- Back --

Stat