Regulation 14 Procedure at an inefficiency hearing
The inefficiency hearing shall be conducted by three officers appointed by the chief officer of police one of whom shall—
where the member concerned is a member of a police force maintained under section 2 of the 1996 Act, be a member of such a police force holding the rank of assistant chief constable;
where the member concerned is a member of the metropolitan police force, be a member of that police force holding the rank of commander; and
where the member concerned is a member of the City of London police force, be an assistant commissioner or a member of that police force holding the rank of commander,
(referred to in these Regulations as the chairman of the inefficiency hearing).
The chairman and any assessor assisting him under paragraph (3) shall be a person who has neither attended nor otherwise been involved with the first interview or the second interview held in relation to the member concerned.
The chairman shall be assisted by two assessors who shall be—
in a case falling within paragraph (1)(a) or (c)—
where the member concerned is of the rank of superintendent, members of a police force other than the police force concerned who hold the rank of assistant chief constable or commander in the metropolitan police force, and
where the member concerned is below the rank of superintendent, members of a police force who hold the rank of superintendent; and
in a case falling within paragraph (1)(b)—
where the member concerned is of the rank of superintendent, members of the metropolitan police force who hold the rank of commander, and
where the member concerned is below the rank of superintendent, members of the metropolitan police force who hold the rank of superintendent.
As soon as the chief officer of police has appointed the chairman, the personnel officer shall arrange for a copy of any document—
which was available to the interviewing officer in relation to the first interview;
which was available to the countersigning officer in relation to the second interview; or
which was prepared or submitted under regulation 11, 12 or 13,
to be made available to the chairman; and a copy of any such document shall be sent to the member concerned.
Subject to the provisions of this regulation, the procedure at the inefficiency hearing shall be such as the chairman may determine.
The inefficiency hearing shall be held in private unless the chairman, with the consent of the member concerned, decides otherwise.
The chairman shall afford the member concerned an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matters referred to in the notice sent under regulation 13(1) and to call any witness in respect of whom notice has been given under regulation 13(2).
A verbatim record of the proceedings at the inefficiency hearing shall be taken and, if the member concerned so requests within the time limit for any appeal and after he has lodged notice of appeal in accordance with rules made under section 85 of the 1996 Act, a transcript of the record or a copy thereof shall be supplied to him by the chairman.
Subject to regulation 15(1), if the member concerned does not attend the inefficiency hearing or at any adjournment thereof, the hearing may be proceeded with and concluded in his absence if it appears to the chairman just and proper to do so.
Where, owing to the absence of the member concerned, it is not possible to comply with the whole or any part of the procedure described in this regulation or regulation 15, the case may be proceeded with as if that procedure had been complied with.