# Police Reform Act 2002, Paragraph 18

Extent: E+W

(1) This paragraph applies where the Director General has determined that the Director General should direct the investigation by the appropriate authority of any complaint , recordable conduct matter or DSI matter.
(2) On being given notice of that determination, the appropriate authority shall, if it has not already done so, appoint—
(a) a person serving with the police (whether under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of the relevant force or of the chief officer of another force), or
(b) a National Crime Agency officer,
to investigate the complaint or matter.
(2A) The Director General may require that no appointment is made under sub-paragraph (2) unless the Director General has given notice to the appropriate authority that the Director General approves the person whom that authority proposes to appoint.
(2B) Where at any time the Director General is not satisfied with the person investigating, the Director General may require the appropriate authority, as soon as reasonably practicable after being required to do so—
(a) to select another person falling within sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (b) to investigate the complaint or matter, and
(b) to notify the Director General of the person selected.
(2C) Sub-paragraph (2B) applies whether the person investigating was appointed—
(a) before the appropriate authority was given notice of the Director General's determination that the Director General should direct the investigation by the appropriate authority,
(b) under sub-paragraph (2) (including where the appointment was approved by the Director General in accordance with sub-paragraph (2A)), or
(c) under sub-paragraph (2D)(a).
(2D) Where a selection made in pursuance of a requirement under sub-paragraph (2B) has been notified to the Director General—
(a) the appropriate authority shall appoint that person to investigate the complaint or matter if, but only if, the Director General notifies the authority that the Director General approves the appointment of that person;
(b) if the Director General notifies the authority that the Director General does not approve the appointment of that person, the appropriate authority must make another selection in accordance with sub-paragraph (2B).
(2E) A person appointed under this paragraph to investigate any complaint or conduct matter—
(a) in the case of an investigation relating to any conduct of a chief officer, must not be a person under that chief officer's direction and control, and
(b) in the case of an investigation relating to any conduct of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, must be a person nominated by the Secretary of State for appointment under this paragraph (and approved for appointment in accordance with sub-paragraph (2A) (if required) or (2D)(a)).
(2F) A person appointed under this paragraph to investigate any DSI matter—
(a) in relation to which the relevant officer is a chief officer, must not be a person under that chief officer's direction and control, and
(b) in relation to which the relevant officer is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, must be a person nominated by the Secretary of State for appointment under this paragraph (and approved for appointment in accordance with sub-paragraph (2A) (if required) or (2D)(a)).
(3) The person appointed to investigate the complaint or matter shall, in relation to that investigation, be under the direction and control of the Director General.
(4) The person appointed to investigate the complaint or matter shall keep the Director General informed of the progress of the investigation.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/30/schedule/3/paragraph/18 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/police-reform-act-2002/schedule-3/paragraph-18
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.