Police Appeals Tribunal

In the United Kingdom, Police Appeals Tribunals hear appeals from police officer misconduct hearings. Officially the Police Appeals (Disciplinary) Tribunal, it is a 'virtual' non-departmental public body managed by the Home Office.

It was established by the Police Act 1996, and later reformed by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

Proceedings
Hearings are facilitated and administered by the local police and crime commissioner (or equivalent body). Proceedings in England are regulated by the Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, and in Scotland by the Police Appeals Tribunals (Scotland) Rules 2013.

Unless the tribunal chair elects to hold the hearing in private, members of the public are able to attend PAT proceedings.

Grounds for appeal
There are three possible grounds for appeal to a PAT:


 * 1) The finding or action imposed was unreasonable
 * 2) New evidence makes the findings incorrect or unreasonable
 * 3) The misconduct hearing was unfair or did not follow the correct procedures

Further avenues for appeal
Decisions of a PAT may be appealed to the High Court of Justice (or the Court of Session in Scotland), by way of judicial review.

Representation
Legal representation is not compulsory, and it is not uncommon for parties to represent themselves or use a friend.

Tribunal members
The three members of the Tribunal will be:


 * A legally qualified chair appointed by the local Police and crime commissioner, selected from a list maintained by the Home Office
 * A serving senior officer
 * A lay person who is not, and has never been in the police

When the appellant is a senior officer, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services or an Inspector nominated by the them will replace the senior officer on the panel, and the Permanent Secretary to the Home Office or another senior Home Office officer nominated by them will replace the lay member.

Criticism
In February 2024, Mark Rowley (the Metropolitan Police Commissioner) criticised the decision of a police appeals tribunal to overturn the 2021 dismissal of detective sergeant Neil Buckmaster, arguing that 'the final say on who works in [police forces' should lie with chief constables.