Representation and
Legal Support
Who can sit beside you, who can speak for you, when you are entitled to a lawyer, and who pays. This guide sets out what the regulations say at each stage, what the Police Federation and the other staff associations actually offer, and what to do if you are not covered.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 30 September 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
You can choose a police friend: another officer, a member of police staff or someone your staff association nominates. They can advise you, attend interviews and represent you at a misconduct meeting. You have a legal right to a lawyer only at a misconduct hearing or accelerated hearing. Federation members can apply for funded legal help, but funding is discretionary and not guaranteed.
Who can support you, and what the regulations allow
There are two different roles: the police friend, who can advise, accompany and (at some stages) represent you, and the relevant lawyer, a solicitor or barrister who can represent you only where the regulations give that right. Everything below is from the revised text of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as read on legislation.gov.uk on 30 September 2026, which includes the 2024, 2025 and 2026 amendments.
The police friend and legal representation rules in regulations 7 and 8 were not changed by the 2025 or 2026 amendments: the revised text shows their last changes in 2022 (the staff association route for special constables) and May 2024 (the adviser at a misconduct meeting, regulation 8(6) and (7)). What did change from 13 July 2026 (SI 2026/653) are the suspension rules, now regulations 11 to 11H, including suspension on arrest for listed offences and automatic suspension on charge, and the investigation notice, which must now warn of automatic suspension where relevant (regulation 17(1)(ca)). Cases already running before a change can be subject to transitional rules, so ask your rep which version applies to your case. The Home Office statutory guidance (version 1.0, February 2020) predates all of these amendments; where it and the current regulations differ, this page follows the regulations.
The police friend (regulation 7). You may choose:
- a police officer;
- a police staff member; or
- a person nominated by your staff association,
who is not otherwise involved in the matter. The police friend may:
- advise you throughout the proceedings;
- represent you at a misconduct meeting, a misconduct hearing, an accelerated misconduct hearing or an appeal meeting, unless you have the right to a lawyer and choose to use it;
- make representations to the appropriate authority about any aspect of the proceedings;
- accompany you to any interview, meeting or hearing that is part of the proceedings.
A police friend who is an officer or staff member must be allowed a reasonable amount of duty time for this (regulation 7(3)). The Home Office guidance adds that a person asked to be a police friend can decline, and that where a police friend acts for a colleague from another force, the police friend's force should pay their reasonable expenses (paragraphs 5.9 and 5.19).
Your staff association (regulation 2). The regulations define it by rank:
- chief inspector or below, and special constables: the Police Federation of England and Wales;
- superintendent and chief superintendent: the Police Superintendents' Association;
- above chief superintendent: the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association.
The lawyer (regulation 8). You have the right to be legally represented, by a relevant lawyer of your choice, at a misconduct hearing or an accelerated misconduct hearing. A "relevant lawyer" is someone authorised under the Legal Services Act 2007 to exercise a right of audience (Police Act 1996, section 84(4)). Otherwise, you may be represented only by a police friend. Where you are legally represented, the police friend can still attend and confer with you, but the lawyer, not the police friend, puts your case (Home Office guidance, paragraph 5.16).
What a police friend can do in the room. Home Office guidance (paragraph 5.15) says that at a misconduct meeting, hearing or accelerated hearing, unless you are legally represented, the police friend may put forward your case, sum it up, respond on your behalf to any view expressed, make representations about any aspect of the proceedings, confer with you, and, at a meeting or hearing, ask questions of witnesses at the discretion of the person conducting it. It also says the police friend can advise you on how to get legal representation and on completing the paperwork (paragraph 5.8), and that it is not their role to conduct their own investigation (paragraph 5.18).
- If you choose not to be legally represented at a hearing, you can still be dismissed without legal representation (regulation 8(3)).
- The unavailability of your preferred lawyer is not a valid ground for delaying a hearing if another lawyer can be found (regulation 8(2)).
- Neither a police friend nor a lawyer may answer questions put to you in interview or in the proceedings (regulations 20(9), 41(9) and 61(10)). You speak for yourself.
In the reflective practice review process, which is not disciplinary, most of the police friend's functions under regulation 7 do not apply (regulation 66(1)). See reflective practice review explained.
Stage by stage: who can support you
The names of the stages are explained in police misconduct explained and misconduct meeting vs hearing.
| Stage | Police friend | Lawyer | Where the rule is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written notice of investigation | Can advise from the start | You can seek advice; the notice must tell you of your right to seek advice from your staff association "or any other body" | Conduct Regs 7, 17(1)(f) and (g) |
| Representations and documents to the investigator | Can provide relevant documents; can advise on your statement | No representation right; can advise | Conduct Regs 18 (10 working days, extendable) |
| Misconduct interview | Can accompany you; cannot answer questions | No right in the Conduct Regulations | Conduct Regs 7(2)(d), 20 |
| Criminal interview under caution | No entitlement in law, though guidance says there are benefits in allowing one | Entitled in law to a lawyer | HO guidance 5.18 |
| Complaint or IOPC investigation (special procedure) | Can advise, provide documents and accompany you to interview | As for misconduct proceedings once referred | Complaints and Misconduct Regs 18 |
| Suspension | You or your police friend can make representations against it | No representation right; can advise | Conduct Regs 11 to 11H |
| Misconduct meeting | Can represent you | No right to be represented by a lawyer | Conduct Regs 8(4) |
| Misconduct hearing | Represents you if no lawyer; attends and confers if you have one | Right to a lawyer of your choice | Conduct Regs 8(1), 37 |
| Accelerated misconduct hearing | As for a hearing | Right to a lawyer of your choice | Conduct Regs 8(1) |
| Appeal meeting (after a misconduct meeting) | Can represent you | No right to be represented by a lawyer | Conduct Regs 8(4), 46 |
| Police Appeals Tribunal | Can represent you, or accompany you if you have a lawyer | Right to a lawyer or a police friend | PAT Rules 2020, rule 19 |
| Vetting withdrawal assessment | Can advise, make representations and accompany you | Right to a lawyer at an interview or appeal meeting | Vetting Regs 2025, 9 and 10 |
| Performance: second stage meeting under regulation 32 | Can represent you if no lawyer | Right to a lawyer | Performance Regs 2020, 6 |
Whether a lawyer may simply attend a misconduct interview or meeting, as an observer or adviser, is not dealt with in the regulations we read. If you want one there, ask the investigator or the person conducting the meeting in advance and get the answer in writing. For performance cases, see gross incompetence and unsatisfactory performance; for IOPC cases, see IOPC investigations explained.
What the Police Federation provides
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is the staff association for constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors, and since 2022 for special constables. Officers cannot join a trade union (Police Act 1996, section 64), which is why the Federation fills that role. What its own pages say, as read on 30 September 2026:
- Membership is optional. Subscribing members get the full range of support under the Federation's rules. Non-subscribing members "will still get limited access to support from reps" but cannot access legal assistance or funding.
- Representation. "During performance and misconduct proceedings, a Fed rep will help, advise and represent you." Reps are elected workplace representatives, and the salaries of reps and branch officers are paid by their force.
- Legal assistance. Members can apply for criminal, misconduct and civil legal assistance, in line with the Fund Rules and funding criteria. The PFEW Claims department says it handles around 6,000 cases a year across all types.
How funding is decided. The Federation's legal assistance page sets out the usual process:
- You contact your local Federation office or rep.
- The local office assesses whether the claim fits the Fund Rules and funding criteria.
- If so, it helps you gather documents and complete the funding application.
- The branch checks you are a subscribing member, and the branch secretary checks the criteria before sending it to the Claims department at Federation headquarters.
- Headquarters carries out a further funding assessment.
- If funding is approved, solicitors are instructed, and the Federation says they consider the merits before further advice or representation is decided.
- Funding is kept under regular review throughout the claim.
The same page says "the Federation has absolute discretion as to whether or not to fund legal advice and representation in relation to any matter". Branch pages list a C4 appeal form, so there is a route to challenge a funding decision; ask your branch how it works.
- Legal assistance may be provided "in connection with proceedings or possible proceedings under such misconduct or unsatisfactory performance or unsatisfactory attendance provisions as are from time to time in force" (rule 30.10), and for criminal proceedings arising from duty or from being an officer (rule 30.9).
- It can include related costs such as expert fees and adverse costs orders (rule 28).
- You must be a "qualifying member": broadly, you started paying subscriptions within six months of joining and have paid continuously. Those who join later or stop and restart are treated under a protocol that may restrict what they can get (rule 20).
- The National Board decides the funding criteria, the limits, and whether and how funding decisions can be appealed (rule 29).
How often funding is granted. In a Freedom of Information response dated 28 March 2025, the Federation said that from 1 January 2022 to the date of the request it received 2,210 applications for legal funding for misconduct-related cases, granted 1,982, and provided £4,848,100.58 for misconduct and gross misconduct proceedings. It also said it is not told of every misconduct case, so it cannot say what share of all cases that represents.
The Gloucestershire branch says that matters that occurred off duty, or are not otherwise concerned with your actions or role as an officer, "may not qualify for legal funding", and that if you are in the branch's group insurance scheme its legal assistance cover is likely to cover matters outside the Federation funding rules. The Federation's FOI 00423 response says criminal funding is generally only supported where the matter arose from duty or from being an officer. Rep advice and representation are a separate question from funding. See also social media and off-duty conduct.
Superintendents, chief officers and police staff
Superintendents and chief superintendents. The Police Superintendents' Association's professional standards page says all fully-paid subscribing members are covered by a legal protection insurance policy, extended to retired members and those who revert to a former rank with conditions, and describes it as "wholly defensive", providing legal advice and representation to defend actions arising from professional liability. It runs a "Panel of Friends" of trained members who act as a police friend for superintendents under formal investigation. Its FAQs say it cannot give legal advice on non-work related issues. Contact routes are on its site.
Chief officers. For officers above chief superintendent, the Conduct Regulations name the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association as the staff association. We could not read CPOSA's own published terms of cover, so we do not describe them. Ask CPOSA directly.
Police staff. Police staff are not covered by the Conduct Regulations' internal procedures; the College of Policing says their standards come from the Police Staff Council handbook or their force's terms of employment. Under section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999, a worker invited to a disciplinary hearing can reasonably ask to be accompanied by a trade union official or a colleague, who can put and sum up the case and confer with them, but not answer questions for them. UNISON, Unite and GMB form the trade union side of the Police Staff Council. Where a complaint or recordable conduct matter is investigated under the special procedure, a police staff member can have a police friend under regulation 18 of the Complaints and Misconduct Regulations. See the police staff hub.
What a solicitor or barrister can and cannot do
- Advise you at any stage, including before an interview or a meeting.
- Help prepare your written statement, your regulation 31 response and documents.
- Represent you at a misconduct hearing, accelerated hearing, Police Appeals Tribunal, second stage performance meeting under regulation 32, and a vetting interview or appeal meeting.
- Represent you in any parallel criminal case, including at a criminal interview under caution.
- Advise on related matters such as pension, employment tribunal or inquest issues.
- Represent you at a misconduct meeting or an appeal meeting, where only a police friend can.
- Answer questions put to you in an interview or at the proceedings.
- Delay a hearing just because they are unavailable, if another lawyer can be found.
- Guarantee an outcome, or stop the force being represented by its own lawyer at a hearing.
The appropriate authority may be represented at a hearing by a lawyer whether or not you choose one (regulation 8(5)). The chair can also be advised by an appointed person at a misconduct meeting, who must not be a relevant lawyer (regulation 8(6) and (7)).
How costs work and what is recoverable
- Federation-funded cases. If the Federation approves funding, it instructs the solicitors. The Fund Rules allow legal assistance to include related costs, including expert fees and adverse costs orders. The detail of limits is in the funding criteria, which we could not read.
- Misconduct meetings and hearings. We found no power in the Conduct Regulations for a panel to order the force to pay an officer's legal costs, even if the case is not proven. If you pay privately, assume you will bear your own costs unless your lawyer tells you otherwise.
- Police Appeals Tribunal. For an appeal by an officer, "the appellant's costs are to be paid by the appellant unless the police appeals tribunal directs that the whole or any part of those costs are to be paid by the respondent" (Police Act 1996, Schedule 6, paragraph 9). Home Office guidance says that, absent dishonesty or lack of good faith, a costs order against the respondent should not be made unless there is good reason (paragraph 26.111).
- Your subscription. The Federation says subscriptions attract tax relief. That is about the subscription, not legal fees.
- Criminal cases. Costs in a parallel criminal case follow separate rules we have not covered. Ask the solicitor representing you.
- Is this a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or staged fees, and what does each stage cost?
- What is excluded: barrister's fees, experts, travel, appeals?
- Who pays if the Federation or an insurer later declines or withdraws funding?
- What costs could I recover, if any, at each stage?
If Federation funding is not available
Legal expenses insurance. Some Federation branches' group insurance schemes include legal cover, and legal expenses cover is sometimes sold with car or home insurance. Check the wording: whether employment or disciplinary matters are covered, whether matters that started before the policy are excluded, the limit, and whether the insurer must approve the lawyer. Under regulation 6 of the Insurance Companies (Legal Expenses Insurance) Regulations 1990, where a legal expenses policy uses a lawyer to represent you in an inquiry or proceedings, you are free to choose that lawyer, and the policy must say so. We have not reviewed any particular policy; our insurance hub explains how to read what you already hold.
Pro bono. LawWorks describes free advice clinics and Advocate, which provides free representation by volunteer barristers for people who cannot afford to pay and cannot get legal aid, but only on referral from a solicitor or advice agency. We could not confirm whether either takes police misconduct cases, so ask before relying on it.
A police friend costs nothing. Whatever happens with funding, you can still choose an officer or staff member as your police friend, and they can use duty time to help you.
Not a member, a special constable, or a former officer
| Your situation | Police friend | Federation help and funding |
|---|---|---|
| Serving officer, not a subscribing member | Any officer or staff member you choose | Limited access to reps; no legal assistance or funding (PFEW membership page). Joining late may be treated under a restrictive protocol (Fund Rule 20.2). |
| Special constable | Any officer or staff member, or a Federation nominee | Can join the Federation since 28 June 2022; subscribing members can apply for legal assistance. |
| Former officer facing gross misconduct proceedings | An officer, a staff member, or anyone you nominate who is approved by the chief officer (Conduct Regs Schedule 1, paragraph 3) | A retired member can apply if they were a qualifying member when they left and the matter arose while serving (Fund Rule 23), subject to the National Board's protocol. |
| Superintendent or chief superintendent | Any officer or staff member, or a PSA nominee (Panel of Friends) | PSA legal protection insurance for fully-paid subscribing members. |
| Police staff member | Under the special procedure for complaints: a police officer, a special constable or a police staff member (Complaints and Misconduct Regs 18) | Trade union (UNISON, Unite or GMB) under its own rules; right to be accompanied at disciplinary hearings under ERA 1999 section 10. |
Home Office guidance from 2020 describes former officers choosing a person nominated by their former staff association (paragraph 5.9). The current regulations, as modified for former officers, instead refer to "any other person nominated by the officer concerned and approved by the chief officer". If you are a former officer, ask the investigator to confirm in writing who they will accept. See also resigning before a misconduct hearing.
How to choose and brief your rep
A police friend's role is "integral", in the Home Office guidance's words. Before you settle on one, ask:
- Have you acted as a police friend in a conduct case before, and at what level (meeting, hearing)?
- Are you in any way involved in this matter, or likely to be a witness? (If so, they cannot act.)
- Will your duty time and shifts let you attend the interview and any meeting or hearing dates?
- Will you help me apply for Federation legal funding, and what do you think the criteria are for my case?
- What will you share with the branch or the solicitor, and how will you store my documents?
- How will we communicate, and how quickly can you reply when a deadline is running?
When you brief them, bring:
- every notice you have received, with the date you received it (regulation 17 notice, terms of reference, any severity assessment);
- a written timeline of events, made while memory is fresh, marked private for your rep or lawyer;
- names of potential witnesses and any documents or messages that help you;
- anything you have already said or written about the matter, including duty statements;
- relevant welfare or health information you want considered, for example as mitigation.
Confidentiality and legal professional privilege
This is an area where we can only state what we could source.
- Lawyers. Legal advice privilege "applies to all communications passing between a client and its lawyers, acting in their professional capacity, in connection with the provision of legal advice" (Supreme Court press summary, Prudential, 2013).
- Non-lawyers. In Prudential, the majority held that legal advice privilege should not be extended to advice given by professionals other than lawyers. We found no source saying privilege attaches to what you tell a police friend who is not a lawyer.
- The police friend's position. Home Office guidance says a police friend should not be asked to provide an account of the matters under investigation, or be cross-examined or called as a witness about their role or the advice they gave (paragraph 5.10). Police friends remain subject to the Standards of Professional Behaviour (paragraph 5.11).
Ask your rep, at the start, how they treat what you tell them and whether anything would have to be passed on. If you need legally privileged advice, get it from a solicitor or barrister. We do not know how every branch handles confidentiality, and this page cannot tell you whether privilege applies to a particular conversation.
First steps when you receive a notice
- Read the notice. Regulation 17 requires it to state the conduct alleged and how it falls below the standards, the investigator, the severity assessment, whether proceedings would likely be a meeting or a hearing, and your right to seek advice and to a police friend.
- Contact your Federation branch, staff association or union the same day if you can. The Gloucestershire branch's advice is not to panic, to seek advice as soon as possible, and to consider waiting to comment until you have had initial advice.
- Keep copies. Of the notice and anything you have already said or written.
- Diary the deadlines. You have 10 working days from the terms of reference to give the investigator a statement and documents (extendable, regulation 18). If an interview date does not suit you or your police friend, you can propose an alternative within 5 working days of the date set (regulation 20).
- Ask about funding early. If you are a Federation member and think you need a lawyer, ask your rep to start the application: the process has several stages.
- If referred to proceedings, you have 15 working days from receiving the papers to say whether you accept the allegation and give your account (regulation 31), so get advice before that deadline.
- Look after yourself. See wellbeing while you are under investigation at the end of this page.
For your wider rights, see police officer under investigation: your rights and how long misconduct investigations take. If there is a criminal side, see police officer arrested or criminally investigated.
What people get wrong
- "I always get a lawyer." The right is only at a misconduct hearing or accelerated hearing (plus the tribunal, some performance meetings and vetting interviews and appeals). At a misconduct meeting only a police friend can represent you.
- "The Federation will pay for everything." Funding is under the Fund Rules and criteria, is reviewed as the case goes on, and the Federation says it has absolute discretion.
- "I can join the Federation now and be covered." Fund Rule 20 treats late joiners under a protocol that may restrict entitlement. Ask your branch before relying on it.
- "My police friend can answer the hard questions." They cannot answer questions put to you.
- "If my barrister is busy, the hearing will move." Not if another lawyer can be found (regulation 8(2)).
- "Everything I tell my rep is privileged." Legal advice privilege is tied to lawyers. Ask about confidentiality before you disclose.
- "If I win, the force pays my costs." We found no such power for misconduct panels, and at the tribunal your own costs are yours unless it directs otherwise.
What we could not verify, and how we handled it
- The Federation's detailed funding criteria. The Fund Rules say the National Board sets them; the forms and criteria sit on the Federation's internal systems. We describe the published process only.
- The current subscription rate. The national membership page and the special constables page gave different monthly figures when we read them, so we have not quoted one. Ask your branch.
- CPOSA's terms of cover. We could not read CPOSA's own published terms.
- Whether a lawyer may attend a misconduct interview or meeting as an observer. Not addressed in the regulations; ask in advance.
- Confidentiality of conversations with a rep. No source we found says legal professional privilege applies; the Home Office guidance on the police friend not being called as a witness is guidance, not a statutory privilege.
- Whether pro bono services take police misconduct cases. Not confirmed.
- A newer Home Office statutory guidance. The GOV.UK page still shows version 1.0 (February 2020), which predates several amendments. Where guidance and current regulations differ, we follow the regulations.
Wellbeing while you are under investigation
Being investigated can be one of the most stressful experiences of a career, especially when it runs for months. Feeling anxious, low, angry or unable to sleep is a common reaction, and support is available and confidential. The 2024 Code of Ethics guidance refers to ensuring "that support is provided to those under investigation for misconduct". Ask your force what welfare contact it offers, and tell your GP how you are feeling.
Your rep can help you keep the case in its box: knowing the next deadline, who is doing what, and that someone is checking the procedure is being followed. For more options, including peer support and occupational health, see the police mental health support services directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Police Federation represent officers in misconduct cases?
Yes, for members. The Police Federation of England and Wales says that during performance and misconduct proceedings a Federation rep will help, advise and represent you, and that subscribing members can apply for legal assistance for criminal, misconduct and civil matters. Legal funding is decided under the Federation's Fund Rules and funding criteria, and the Federation says it has absolute discretion over whether to fund.
Can I have a solicitor or barrister at a police misconduct hearing?
Yes. Regulation 8 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 gives the officer the right to be legally represented by a relevant lawyer of their choice at a misconduct hearing or an accelerated misconduct hearing. If you choose not to be, you can still be dismissed without legal representation. The unavailability of your preferred lawyer is not a valid reason to delay a hearing if another lawyer can be found.
Can I have a lawyer at a misconduct meeting?
Not as your representative. Regulation 8(4) says that, except where the officer has the right to legal representation and chooses it, the officer may be represented at misconduct proceedings, an accelerated hearing or an appeal meeting only by a police friend. The right to a lawyer applies to hearings, not meetings. Nothing we read stops you taking legal advice before a meeting.
What is a police friend?
A police officer, a police staff member, or a person nominated by your staff association, who is not otherwise involved in the matter, chosen by you (regulation 7). They can advise you throughout, represent you at a misconduct meeting, hearing or appeal meeting unless you are legally represented, make representations to the appropriate authority, and accompany you to any interview, meeting or hearing. A police friend who is an officer or staff member can use a reasonable amount of duty time.
Can my police friend answer questions for me in interview?
No. Regulation 20(9) says a police friend may not answer any questions asked of the officer during an interview, and the same rule applies in misconduct proceedings. Home Office guidance says it is for the officer to speak for themselves when asked questions, although the police friend can take part as fully as possible otherwise.
Do I have to be a Federation member to get a rep?
You can choose any police officer or police staff member as a police friend whether or not you are a member. The Federation's own help is for members: its membership page says non-subscribing members still get limited access to support from reps but cannot access legal assistance or funding. Ask your local branch what that means for you before you rely on it.
Can special constables get Federation representation?
Since 28 June 2022, special constables can be members of the Police Federation. The Federation's page for specials says a rep will help, advise and represent you during performance and misconduct proceedings, and that subscribing members can apply for legal assistance subject to the funding criteria. The Conduct Regulations define the Federation as the staff association for special constables.
Will the Federation pay for my solicitor?
Possibly. Under the Fund Rules, legal assistance can be provided for misconduct and unsatisfactory performance proceedings, but only for members who meet the rules and funding criteria. Applications go through your local branch and then the Claims department at Federation headquarters, which instructs solicitors if funding is approved, and funding is kept under review. In an FOI response the Federation said it granted 1,982 of 2,210 misconduct-related funding applications from January 2022 to early 2025.
Can I get my legal costs back if I win?
We found no provision in the Conduct Regulations for a misconduct panel to award an officer's legal costs. At a Police Appeals Tribunal, the officer's costs are paid by the officer unless the tribunal directs the respondent to pay all or part of them (Police Act 1996, Schedule 6). Ask your lawyer about costs at the start.
Is what I tell my Federation rep confidential or privileged?
Be careful here. Legal advice privilege protects communications with lawyers acting as lawyers, and the Supreme Court in Prudential (2013) refused to extend it to legal advice from non-lawyers. We found no source saying privilege covers a police friend who is not a lawyer. Home Office guidance says a police friend should not be asked to give an account of the matters or be called as a witness about the advice they gave. Ask your rep and any solicitor how they handle what you tell them.
What if I am a former officer facing misconduct proceedings?
The Conduct Regulations apply, with modifications, to some former officers for gross misconduct allegations. For them, a police friend can be a police officer, a police staff member, or any other person you nominate who is approved by the chief officer. Under the Federation's Fund Rules, a retired member can apply for legal assistance if they were a qualifying member when they left and the matter arose while they were serving.
Who represents superintendents and chief officers?
The Conduct Regulations name the Police Superintendents' Association for superintendents and chief superintendents, and the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association for officers above chief superintendent. The Superintendents' Association says fully-paid subscribing members are covered by a legal protection insurance policy and that it runs a Panel of Friends for members under investigation. We could not read CPOSA's own published terms.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 30 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/4 (legislation.gov.uk, revised text) — regulation 2 (staff association), 7 (police friend), 8 (legal representation), 17 (notices), 18 (representations), 20 (interviews), 31, 37, 66 and Schedule 1 (former officers) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Act 1996, section 84 and Schedule 6 (legislation.gov.uk) — definition of relevant lawyer; Police Appeals Tribunal costs (Schedule 6, paragraph 9) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Act 1996, section 64 (legislation.gov.uk) — officers may not be members of a trade union, with a limited exception (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/2, regulation 18 — police friend under the special procedure for complaints and recordable conduct matters (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police (Performance) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/3, regulation 6 — right to a lawyer at a second stage meeting under regulation 32 (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Appeals Tribunals Rules 2020, SI 2020/1, rule 19 — appellant may be represented by a relevant lawyer or a police friend (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025, SI 2025/502, regulations 9 and 10 — police friend and right to a lawyer at a vetting interview or appeal meeting (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Home Office: Conduct, Efficiency and Effectiveness statutory guidance (version 1.0, February 2020) — paragraphs 5.7 to 5.19 on the police friend and legal representation; 26.111 on appeal costs (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation of England and Wales: becoming a member — membership optional; reps help, advise and represent; non-subscribing members cannot access legal assistance (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation of England and Wales: legal advice and assistance — ten-step funding process; Claims department; absolute discretion (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation of England and Wales: Rules (version 4, October 2024), Appendix 5 Fund Rules (PDF) — qualifying members, retired members, what legal assistance can cover (rules 19 to 30) (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation: FOI 00432, legal representation for misconduct cases (responded 28 March 2025) — 2,210 applications, 1,982 granted, £4,848,100.58 from 1 January 2022 (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation: FOI 00423, legal expenses for convicted officers (responded 16 January 2025) — criminal funding generally only where the matter arose from duty or officer status; appeals need strong written advice (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Federation: special constables — specials can join; representation and legal assistance for subscribing members (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Gloucestershire Police Federation: conduct and conduct investigations FAQ — off-duty matters may not qualify for funding; group insurance legal cover (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Police Superintendents' Association: professional standards — legal protection insurance for fully-paid subscribing members; Panel of Friends (accessed 30 September 2026)
- UNISON: police staff pay claim 2026 (10 April 2026) — UNISON, Unite and GMB form the trade union side of the Police Staff Council (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Employment Relations Act 1999, section 10 (legislation.gov.uk) — workers' right to be accompanied at disciplinary hearings (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Insurance Companies (Legal Expenses Insurance) Regulations 1990, regulation 6 — freedom to choose a lawyer under a legal expenses policy in inquiries or proceedings (accessed 30 September 2026)
- Supreme Court: R (Prudential plc) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax [2013] UKSC 1, press summary — legal advice privilege is limited to advice from members of the legal profession (accessed 30 September 2026)
- LawWorks: legal advice for individuals — pro bono routes including Advocate, which needs a referral (accessed 30 September 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. It is not a law firm or a representative body, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Conduct, performance and complaints procedures are set by regulations, statutory guidance and your force's own policies, all of which are amended from time to time, and the outcome of any case turns on its facts. If you are under investigation or facing proceedings, speak to your Police Federation or staff association representative or a solicitor about your own case. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 30 September 2026.