Provision by Provision Commentary Level 2 disclosures: review applications Section 28: Independent reviewer: information and representations
58.Section 28 gives the independent reviewer powers to gather information in connection with the review. The independent reviewer must invite representations from the applicant, and can require information to be provided by certain persons listed in subsection (2), within such time as the reviewer may specify (subject to any time periods set by Ministers in regulations made under section 37(2)(c)). The Scottish Ministers are under a duty to provide the independent reviewer with a statement of reasons for their own decision or the chief constable’s decision which is the subject of the review (the chief constable has to notify Ministers of the reasons for the chief constable’s decision under section 23(7)). The chief constable cannot provide information to the independent reviewer if doing so would harm the interests of the prevention or detection of crime. The independent reviewer must take account of any representations, statement of reasons or information received when carrying out a review.