Where police misconduct hearings occur under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, the hearings must be conducted by a panel of three persons comprising:

  • a chair appointed by the Police and Crime Commissioner selected on a fair and transparent basis from a list of legally qualified persons maintained by the Police and Crime Commissioner;
  • a member of a police force of the rank of Superintendent or above appointed by the Chief Constable; and
  • an independent person appointed by the Police and Crime Commissioner selected on a fair and transparent basis from a list of independent persons maintained by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

In the Eastern Region the Police and Crime Commissioners have joined together to appoint and maintain lists of both legally qualified chairs and independent members. Appointment of legally qualified chairs and independent members to a particular case hearing should be on a fair and transparent basis by a Police and Crime Commissioner following a request by the Chief Constable. Home Office Guidance states that “fair and transparent” will generally mean that a rota system is established. The Regional Police and Crime Commissioners have produced a statement of how their rota system operates – Selection of Misconduct Panels and Police Appeals Tribunals (PDF, 808KB).

For more information upon how the Police and Crime Commissioner discharges his responsibilities under the Police Complaints and Conduct System see the Police Complaints and Conduct System Statement of Policy – Febuary 2020 (PDF, 314KB) issued by the Police and Crime Commissioner.