{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-reform-act-2002/schedule-3/paragraph-4A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-reform-act-2002/schedule-3/paragraph-4A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2002/30",
  "legislation_title": "Police Reform Act 2002",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-reform-act-2002",
  "path": "schedule/3/paragraph/4A",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "4A",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) 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 paragraph 4 as having been so referred.\n(2) Where the Director General treats a complaint as having been referred to the Director General—\n(a) paragraphs 2 and 4 do not apply, or cease to apply, in relation to the complaint except to the extent provided for by paragraph 4(7), and\n(b) paragraphs 5, 6, 6A, 15 and 25 apply in relation to the complaint as if it had been referred to the Director General by the appropriate authority under paragraph 4.\n(3) The Director General must notify the following that the Director General is treating a complaint as having been referred to the Director General—\n(a) the appropriate authority;\n(b) the complainant;\n(c) 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).\n(4) Where an appropriate authority receives a notification under sub-paragraph (3) in respect of a complaint and the complaint has not yet been recorded, the appropriate authority must record the complaint.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. 3 para. 4A and cross-heading inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 1.2.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 17(3), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2020/5, reg. 2(e) (with art. 3(1)(2)(4))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 3 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 56(2) (with Sch. 9 para. 56(6)); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 3 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 56(5) (with Sch. 9 para. 56(6)); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 3 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 56(4) (with Sch. 9 para. 56(6)); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/30/schedule/3/paragraph/4A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-31T10:30:50.998378+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."
}