Regulation 24 Power of Director General to treat complaints as having been referred
The Director General may treat a complaint that comes to the Director General’s attention otherwise than by having been referred to the Director General under regulation 23 as having been so referred.
Where the Director General treats a complaint as having been referred to the Director General—
regulations 15 and 23 do not apply, or cease to apply, in relation to the complaint except to the extent provided for by regulation 23(7); and
regulations 17, 25, 36 and 81 apply in relation to the complaint as if it had been referred to the Director General by the chief executive under regulation 23.
The Director General must notify the following that the Director General is treating a complaint as having been referred to the Director General—
the chief executive;
the complainant;
except in a case where it appears to the Director General that to do so might prejudice an investigation of the complaint (whether an existing investigation or a possible future one), the person complained against (if any).
Where the chief executive receives a notification under paragraph (3) in respect of a complaint and the complaint has not yet been recorded, the chief executive must record the complaint.