Member

Amendment 21 seeks to change the wording in Clause 9, which enables the Minister for the Cabinet Office to make regulations, from “may” to “must”. Clause 9 provides for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to review serious incidents and complaints that could arise from the PSFA’s use of PACE powers. Specifically, it amends the Police Reform Act 2002 to extend the IOPC director-general’s functions to include oversight of authorised public sector fraud investigators. While the Bill gives the IOPC the power to carry out reviews without the Minister having to pass regulations, the regulations will allow the Minister to tailor the functions specifically to the PSFA and allow for payment to the IOPC for its work. Therefore, the proposed wording would create an obligation to make regulations where none currently exists, although I assure noble Lords that tailoring regulations will be laid. We will be back here, in the Moses Room, to debate such regulations.