Police Appeals Tribunals

Police Misconduct Hearings

Under the Police Conduct Regulations 2012 (as amended by Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2015), changes were made to the conduct and composition of police misconduct hearings for police officers of Superintendent rank and below. The purpose of the changes was to bring greater transparency and independence to police misconduct hearings. The holding of hearings in public was introduced in May 2015 and since January 2016 such hearings have been chaired by a legally qualified person appointed by the respective Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales (the Commissioners). Further changes in legislation were made from 1 February 2020 under the Policing and Crime Act 2017, whereby legally qualified chairs are required to manage police misconduct hearings from the outset.

Misconduct Hearings in South Wales, Gwent, Dyfed Powys and North Wales 

Hearings will be held in each of the South Wales, Gwent, Dyfed Powys and North Wales police force areas. Hearings will be conducted by a Police Misconduct Panel (the panel) made up of one legally qualified chair, one police officer of at least the rank of superintendent and an independent member. The Commissioners maintain a list of legally qualified chairs and independent members and appoint them by using the ‘cab rank process’. Click here to see the appointment process adopted in Wales.

Details about misconduct hearings can be found on South Wales Police’s website -Misconduct hearings | South Wales Police (south-wales.police.uk)

Police Appeals Tribunals

Police Appeals Tribunals (PATs) hear appeals against the findings of gross (most serious) misconduct brought by police officers or special constables. PATs are currently governed by the Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020. Members of the public can now attend appeal hearings as observers but are not allowed to participate in proceedings; however, the Chair of the Tribunal reserves the right to hold part or all of the Tribunal in private.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales is responsible for facilitating the hearing which includes appointing the Chair to conduct the proceedings. The Chair is appointed from a Register of Legally Qualified Chairs held by the Home Office.

Details of upcoming Police Appeals Tribunals will be published on the South Wales Police’s website.