Part 2: Police Complaints, Discipline and Inspection Chapter 1: Police Complaints Section 15: Duty to keep complainant and other interested persons informed
Sections 20 and 21 of the 2002 Act currently set out the requirements for the IPCC and appropriate authority to keep the complainant and interested parties (for example, a relative in the case of complaint relating to a death or serious injury) informed where an investigation is taking place into a complaint. Similarly, where a complaint is currently handled through local resolution, there are a number of requirements in Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act as to when a complainant must be informed of developments and the nature of the information to be provided. This includes the need to provide an opportunity for the complainant to make comments about the complaint, subsequent findings and the requirement to share any report produced. In this case they are set out in regulations.
	Section 15 creates an over-arching duty to keep the complainant and interested parties informed about the handling of a complaint or matter, whether or not it is being investigated. New section 20(3A) of the 2002 Act (inserted by subsection (2)) extends the current general duty on the appropriate authority to keep the complainant informed in cases where: (i) the complaint is being handled by the appropriate authority in accordance with Schedule 3 otherwise than by way of an investigation, and (ii) the complaint is being handled by the appropriate authority otherwise than in accordance with Schedule 3 (that is, resolved informally, as it relates to a low-level issue). New section 21(8A) of the 2002 Act (inserted by subsection (6)) extends the current general duty on the appropriate authority to keep interested persons informed to cases where the complaint or matter is being handled by the appropriate authority in accordance with Schedule 3 otherwise than by way of an investigation.
	Subsections (3) and (7) replace the current lists of matters on which complainants and interested parties must be kept informed with lists of matters that apply in all cases, whether or not there is an investigation. Provision is also made for the Secretary of State to specify further matters in regulations (subject to the negative procedure).
	Section 20(9) of the 2002 Act places a duty on a person appointed to carry out an investigation under Part 2 to provide the IPCC or, as the case may be, the appropriate authority with all such information as the IPCC or that authority reasonably require for the purpose of discharging their responsibilities for keeping the complaint properly informed. Subsection (5) amends section 20(9) so that the duty imposed by that subsection applies where a third party is involved in the handling of the complaint other than by carrying out an investigation.
	Subsection (9) repeals the notification duties in paragraphs 23 and 24 of Schedule 3 to the 2002 Act as these are now captured by the overarching duties to keep the complainant and interested persons informed under the amended sections 20 and 21 of the 2002 Act. Subsections (4) and (8) insert the provisions at paragraphs 23(12) and 24(10) of Schedule 3 (repealed by subsection (9)), into sections 20 and 21 respectively of the 2002 Act, which allow the IPCC and the appropriate authority to (subject to exceptions, although notwithstanding any obligation of secrecy imposed by any rule of law or otherwise) provide the complainant and any interested persons with a copy of any investigation report submitted under paragraph 22 of Schedule 3, as amended.