Police Appeals Tribunal
Decisions Analysis
The Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) is the final stage of challenge for officers dismissed or sanctioned following misconduct. This guide sets out the rules and the official Home Office figures on appeal outcomes.
Trust Notice: Based on the Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020 and Home Office statistics. Not legal advice. Updated: 30 September 2026.
What Is the Police Appeals Tribunal?
The Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) hears appeals against findings and disciplinary action at misconduct hearings and accelerated hearings under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (and, for senior officers, misconduct meetings). It also hears appeals under the Performance Regulations and, since 14 May 2025, against withdrawal of vetting clearance.
It is not a rehearing of the case. The only grounds are that the finding or disciplinary action was unreasonable, that there is evidence that could not reasonably have been considered which could have materially affected it, or a breach of procedure or unfairness which could have materially affected it (Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, rule 4(4)). You cannot appeal a finding you accepted (rule 4(3)). Notice must be given within 10 working days (rule 9). For officers below senior rank the tribunal has three members: a legally qualified chair, a senior officer and a lay person (Police Act 1996, Schedule 6, paragraph 2).
How Often Do Appeals Succeed?
The Home Office's police misconduct statistics count PAT appeals from misconduct hearings and accelerated hearings. In cases finalised in the year ending 31 March 2025 there were 55 appeals (36 after hearings, 19 after accelerated hearings), about 5.9% of hearings and accelerated hearings. Most did not succeed.
Outcomes of 55 appeals, year ending 31 March 2025
Source: Home Office, Police misconduct, England and Wales: year ending 31 March 2025, chapter 5. The Home Office warns the appeal figures may double-count or under-count. Appeals after misconduct meetings for officers below senior rank go to an internal appeal, not the tribunal, and are not included.
Why Appeals Fail
An appeal must fit one of the three grounds in rule 4(4). The chair must dismiss an appeal, or a ground, that has no real prospect of success unless there is some compelling reason for it to proceed (rule 15); 23 of the 55 appeals in the year ending 31 March 2025 ended that way.
The question under the first ground is whether the decision was unreasonable, not whether the tribunal would have decided differently.
When Appeals Succeed
- A breach of procedure or unfairness that could have materially affected the result (rule 4(4)(c)).
- The finding or disciplinary action was unreasonable (rule 4(4)(a)).
- Since 28 May 2025, dismissal is the outcome for proven gross misconduct unless exceptional circumstances apply, which frames what is reasonable.
- Evidence that could not reasonably have been considered, which could have materially affected the result (rule 4(4)(b)).
What the tribunal can do
If an appeal succeeds, the tribunal's order replaces the original decision from the date of that decision (Police Act 1996, Schedule 6, paragraph 7). The Home Office notes it can impose a lesser finding or outcome, send the case back for a new hearing or, in some cases, a more severe outcome.
If you are reinstated, you are treated as having served continuously for pension purposes, and for pay to the extent the order says (Schedule 6, paragraph 7(2)).
Since 29 September 2026, section 204 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 lets the Home Office make rules allowing chief officers, police and crime commissioners and the IOPC to appeal to the tribunal. The Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020 on legislation.gov.uk had not been amended to create that right when we checked on 30 September 2026.
Integrity vs Operational Judgment
We have not found published national data comparing appeal outcomes by type of misconduct, so the points below describe the legal framework, not measured success rates:
Integrity Cases
(e.g. Dishonesty, sexual misconduct)
Dishonesty goes to the Honesty and Integrity standard.
The College of Policing's outcomes guidance says the first purpose of the misconduct regime is to maintain public confidence in the police service.
Operational Judgment
(e.g. Use of force decisions)
Judged against the Use of Force standard.
From 30 June 2026 the standard says officers only use force when they honestly believe it necessary, and it should be necessary, proportionate and reasonable.
The Home Office bulletin does not break appeals down by allegation type. Across all allegations finalised in the year ending 31 March 2025, the largest category was discreditable conduct (31%), and sexual conduct allegations had the highest case to answer rate (53%).
The Role of Proportionality
The first ground of appeal (rule 4(4)(a)) asks:
"Was the finding or disciplinary action unreasonable?"
Not: "Would we have decided differently?"
This distinction is critical.
Misconduct Hearing vs PAT Appeal
Misconduct Hearing
- Fact-finding process
- Evidence presented live
- Determines the sanction
Appeals Tribunal
- Review-based process
- Procedural focus
- Findings and sanction, on three grounds only
Barred List
A dismissal must be reported for the barred list whether or not you appeal. Reinstatement on appeal leads to removal (Police Act 1996, section 88F).
Pension Impact
Dismissal does not forfeit your pension. If you are reinstated, the gap counts as continuous service for pension (Schedule 6, paragraph 7(2)).
Duration
No overall time limit, and no published national figures on duration. Notice of appeal is due within 10 working days (rule 9).
Common Questions
How often do police misconduct appeals succeed?
Most do not. In cases finalised in the year ending 31 March 2025, the Home Office recorded 55 appeals to the Police Appeals Tribunal: the chair dismissed 23 before a hearing, 22 were heard and not upheld, and 6 were upheld. The Home Office warns that recording of appeals may double-count or under-count.
Can dismissal be overturned on appeal?
Yes. Of the 6 appeals upheld in the year ending 31 March 2025, 4 officers were reinstated with less severe action than dismissal and 1 was sent to a new hearing (Home Office). The grounds are that the finding or outcome was unreasonable, that there is new evidence that could have materially affected it, or a breach of procedure or unfairness that could have materially affected it (Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, rule 4(4)).
Does the Tribunal re-hear all evidence?
No. Witnesses can only be called where the appeal relies on the new evidence ground, and only if the chair reasonably believes it is necessary (rules 13 and 18). Otherwise the tribunal works from the documents and submissions.
Does an appeal stop barred list placement?
No. The force must report a dismissal for the barred list (Police Act 1996, section 88A) whether or not you appeal. If the tribunal reinstates you, the force must make a further report and the College of Policing must remove you from the list (section 88F).
How long does a PAT appeal take?
There is no overall time limit and we have not found published national figures on how long appeals take. The notice of appeal must be given within 10 working days of receiving the written decision (rule 9), and the chair's decision on whether an appeal has a real prospect of success comes first (rule 15).
Sources (checked 30 September 2026)
- The Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, revised text: who can appeal and grounds (rules 4 to 6), notice (rule 9), witnesses (rules 13 and 18), chair's review (rule 15), public hearings (rule 22).
- Police Act 1996, Schedule 6: membership and effect of orders; Part 4A: barred list reporting and removal (ss 88A, 88F).
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 204: power to make rules for appeals by chief officers, PCCs and the IOPC, in force 29 September 2026.
- Home Office, Police misconduct, England and Wales: year ending 31 March 2025 (Official Statistics in Development, 22 January 2026), chapter 5.
- College of Policing, Guidance on outcomes in police misconduct proceedings (2022, PDF).