ABSTRACT
Any ‘appropriate authority’ mentioned above may either be required to refer certain complaints to the PCA or may do so of their own volition. Under s 70, an appropriate authority has a duty to refer any complaint to the PCA where death or serious injury has resulted from the alleged conduct or where the complaint is of a description specified in regulations made by the Home Secretary6 or, where a complaint has come to the notice of the PCA, it may require this to be referred to them. An appropriate authority has the discretion to refer any complaint to the PCA, even when not required to do so. Under s 71, an appropriate authority may refer any matter to the PCA where no complaint has been forthcoming but where a police officer may have committed a criminal or disciplinary offence of sufficient gravity or under exceptional circumstances.
