Section 3Part 0 —
Functions of Ombudsman
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Subject to this Law, the Ombudsman shall undertake investigation and resolution of complaints made by members of the public against police officers.
Subject to this Law, the Ombudsman shall have the power -
to receive any complaints made by a member of the public against a police officer, including a complaint alleging that the conduct of a police officer resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person;
to determine by whom the investigation of a complaint shall be undertaken, and give direction;
to deal with any other matter which, whether or not the subject of a complaint, is in the opinion of the Ombudsman of such a nature that it should be so investigated because of its gravity or its exceptional circumstances or because it is in the public interest;
to keep under review any investigation undertaken by the Unit, an investigatory body or a person authorized by the Unit or the Ombudsman under this Law;
to redirect or reassign any investigation at any time, if the Ombudsman is of the view that the investigation is not being conducted in a timely or satisfactory manner;
to require the production of any record or information, from any person except the Governor, which may be relevant to an investigation in a time period specified by the Ombudsman;
to refuse to investigate any matter on the ground that it is trivial, that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith or that the complainant does not have sufficient interest in the matter; and
to issue guidance notes, procedures and forms as to the processing of complaints.
For the purposes of an investigation, the Ombudsman shall have the same powers as the Grand Court in respect of the attendance and examination of witnesses (including the administration of oaths or affirmations and the examination of witnesses abroad) and in respect of the production of documents.
No person shall be compelled for the purposes of an investigation under this Law to give any evidence or produce any document which the person could not be compelled to give or produce in civil proceedings before the Grand Court.
No information, answer, document or thing shall be withheld from the Ombudsman on the ground that its disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
The Ombudsman may continue an investigation even if a criminal or civil proceeding may be, or has been commenced related to the matter under investigation.