Part 2: Police Complaints, Discipline and Inspection Chapter 4: Police Discipline Section 31: Appeals to Police Appeals Tribunals
This section amends Schedule 6 to the 1996 Act. This Schedule determines the composition of Police Appeals Tribunals ("PATs"). Such tribunals hear appeals made by police officers against any disciplinary finding and/or outcomes imposed at a misconduct meeting, misconduct hearing or special case hearing under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012, and in the case of non-senior police officers under the Police (Performance) Regulations 2012.
	At present, a PAT consists of three panel members who are appointed by the local policing body (for non-senior officers) or the Secretary of State (for senior officers). Under Schedule 6 to the 1996 Act, a PAT which considers an appeal by a senior police officer must comprise a chair chosen from a list of persons nominated by the Lord Chancellor and appointed by the Home Secretary; a panel member from HMIC; and a panel member who is a Home Office director. In the case of the consideration of appeals by non-senior officers, the panel must have a chair chosen from a list of persons nominated by the Lord Chancellor and appointed by the Home Secretary; a panel member who is a serving police officer; and a panel member who is a retired police officer.
	Subsection (2) amends Schedule 6 so that the ‘relevant person’ governs the appointment of the PAT in appeals made by a senior officer, rather than solely the Secretary of State. Subsection (3) replicates this change for appeals made by non-senior officers rather than the relevant local policing body as is the case at present.
	Subsection (3)(c) changes the composition of PATs in appeals made by non-senior officers, where the existing retired police officer panel member will be replaced with a lay member who is independent of the police. The composition of PAT panels for senior officers will remain the same.
	Subsection (4) allows the Secretary of State to make rules enabling the relevant person who appoints the PAT panel to differ according to each case and circumstance and, where necessary, to delegate their existing responsibility. Rules could allow the delegation of this responsibility to the appropriate authority of another force, or another body, to facilitate collaboration on the administration of PATs across multiple forces.
	Subsection (5) defines the lay person as a person who is not, and has never been, a member of a police force or special constable within the United Kingdom or civilian police staff within England and Wales, a member of staff within a local policing body or individuals who have served within the national police forces of the British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary or Ministry of Defence Police.
	Subsection (6) makes consequential amendments as a result of these changes to Part 1 of Schedule 22 to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and Part 1 of Schedule 16 to the 2011 Act.