The Service Police (Complaints etc.) Regulations 2023

Duties to preserve evidence relating to conduct matters

23.—(1) Where a recordable conduct matter that relates to the conduct of a Provost Marshal comes to the attention of the appropriate authority, that authority must secure that all such steps as are appropriate for the purposes of this Part are taken, both initially and from time to time after that, for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(2) Where a Provost Marshal who is the appropriate authority becomes aware of any recordable conduct matter relating to the conduct of a member of a service police force, that person must take all such steps as appear to be appropriate for the purposes of this Part for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(3) A Provost Marshal’s duty under paragraph (2) must be performed as soon as practicable after that person becomes aware of the matter in question.

(4) After that, the Provost Marshal must, until satisfied that it is no longer necessary to do so, continue to take steps from time to time that are considered to be appropriate for the purposes of this Part for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to the matter.

(5) The Defence Council or the Board must comply with all such directions as may be given to it by the Commissioner in relation to the performance of any duty imposed on it by virtue of paragraph (1).

(6) A Provost Marshal must take all such specific steps for obtaining or preserving evidence relating to any recordable conduct matter as that person may be directed to take for the purposes of this regulation by the appropriate authority or the Commissioner.