Police Appeals Tribunals

Police Misconduct Hearings

Under The Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2024, changes were made to the composition of police misconduct hearings for police officers of Superintendent rank and below. The purpose of the changes was to give Chief Constables greater responsibility in the disciplinary process, including the determination of whether or not an officer should be dismissed. The holding of hearings in public was introduced in May 2015 and from May 2024 Chief Officers will have responsibility for chairing misconduct hearings but can delegate this responsibility to another Senior Officer.

Details about misconduct hearings can be found on South Wales Police’s website – click here.

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

Hearings will be conducted by a Police Misconduct Panel (the panel), comprising of the Chair and two Independent Panel Members. The panel will be advised by a Legally Qualified Person appointed by the respective Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales (the Commissioners). The Commissioners maintain a list of Legally Qualified Persons and Independent Panel Members and appoint them by using the ‘cab rank process’. The appointment process adopted in Wales can be found at the bottom of this page (this process is in the process of being amended).

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.