{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/commissioner-for-older-people-act-northern-ireland-2011/section-8",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/commissioner-for-older-people-act-northern-ireland-2011/section-8.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2011/1",
  "legislation_title": "Commissioner for Older People Act (Northern Ireland) 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/commissioner-for-older-people-act-northern-ireland-2011",
  "path": "section/8",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "8",
  "heading": "Investigation of complaints against relevant authorities",
  "text": "(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 9, the Commissioner may conduct an investigation into a complaint made by an older person that the interests of the older person have been adversely affected by any action taken by a relevant authority.\n(2) The Commissioner may not exercise the Commissioner's power under subsection (1) in relation to a complaint unless the Commissioner is satisfied that—\n(a) the complaint raises a question of principle; and\n(b) the complaint does not fall within an existing statutory complaints system.\n(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a complaint falls within an existing statutory complaints system if a statutory provision confers power on a person to make the complaint to a body or person and—\n(a) that body or person has power under a statutory provision to investigate the complaint; or\n(b) that body or person would have power under a statutory provision to investigate the complaint but for some exclusion or restriction in that statutory provision.\n(4) Where the Commissioner decides not to conduct an investigation into a complaint made under subsection (1), the Commissioner must prepare a statement of the Commissioner's reasons for that decision and must send a copy of the statement to—\n(a) the complainant; and\n(b) such other persons (if any) as the Commissioner considers appropriate.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Ss. 2-29: transfer of functions (8.5.2016) by The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (S.R. 2016/76), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (with art. 9(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 8 in operation at 1.12.2012 by S.R. 2012/388, art. 2(g)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2011/1/section/8",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:21:00.127479+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}