# Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2000, Paragraph 4

Extent: N.I.

For the purposes of regulation 25 it shall not be reasonably practicable to complete the investigation of a complaint if, and only if, in the opinion of the Ombudsman:
(a) it is not reasonably practicable to communicate with the complainant or, as the case may be, the person who submitted the complaint, or any other injured person, notwithstanding that the complaint is not an anonymous one within the meaning of paragraph 2, or
(b) it is not reasonably practicable to complete a satisfactory investigation in consequence of—
(i) a refusal or failure, on the part of the complainant, to make a statement or afford other reasonable assistance for the purposes of the investigation, or
(ii) a refusal or failure, on the part of an injured person other than the complainant, to support the complaint, evidenced either by a statement in writing (signed by him or by his solicitor or other authorised agent on his behalf) to the effect that he does not support it or by a refusal or failure, on his part, such as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) above, or
(iii) the lapse of time since the event or events forming the subject matter of the complaint.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2000/318/schedule/paragraph/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/royal-ulster-constabulary-complaints-etc-regulations-2000/schedule/paragraph-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.