Select Committee on Defence Written Evidence


APPENDIX B

POLICY, PROCEDURE AND PROTOCOLS FOR OFFICER SAFETY TRAINING

CO11 Recruit Officer Safety Foundation Course Policy, Procedure and Protocol Information Sheet

1.  INTRODUCTION

  Your Officer Safety training will be delivered by experienced police officers from the Officer Safety Unit, which is part of the Public Order branch based at New Scotland Yard. Officer Safety training in its current format has been in existence since 1995, however its origins can be traced back to the early 90's when handcuffing and batons were taught as an individual subject matter.

  "Officer Safety is paramount to maintaining safe working practices under health and safety and has been developed by police officers for police officers, and its principles can extend throughout all of your policing duties".

2.  AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

  It is the aim of the Officer Safety Unit to provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to police London lawfully, safely and effectively. To achieve this aim you will need to:

Objective 1

  Demonstrate competency in Communication Skills, Empty Hands Techniques, Batons, Handcuffs and CS Incapacitant Spray.

Objective 2

  State legislation involved in use of force and discuss the need for writing accurate evidence.

Objective 3

  Discuss the Medical Implications of the techniques practised on this course.

Objective 4

  State the component parts of the Officer Safety Model, and discuss its application of it to practical situations.

3.  ATTENDANCE

  The Foundation Course requires you to attain a 100% attendance and participation. The course is "Pass or Fail", and this is measured against recognised competencies. The course is a mixture of continual and formal assessment.

  Under Health and Safety legislation (s.7b Health and Safety Act 1974) you may be guilty of an offence if you fail to co-operate with your employer in respect of health and safety issues, they include attending and completing officer safety training as it is to improve your health and safety.

  There are two occasions when it is acceptable to be late or not attend an OS lesson, they are:

    (i)  If you are shown sick (self/certificated), or

    (ii)  Attending a second, case conference.

  If you are recoursed you will be expected to attend all future officer safety with your new class. The only reason for non-attendance will follow consultation between CO11 and the DTD.

  If you fail to attain a competent standard in any assessed element you may face Regulation 15 proceedings being instigated against you.

  If you do not complete the full Officer Safety foundation course, and there is no formal opportunity to "catch-up" the time missed, policy is in place to require you to be retained into a further week of basic training where the elements that have been missed will be taught.

  This requirement will be dealt with on the merits of each individual case.

4.  WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?

  Your Officer Safety training will take place at the Croft Gymnasium, which is situated adjacent to the Parade Square at the Simpson Hall end of the Peel Centre estate.

  When you attend Officer Safety training enter the building via the double doors from the Parade Square next to the "Blue lamp". Follow the corridor around to the left where you will find the female changing rooms on the right and the male to the left. All parades for Officer safety will take place up the stairs on the gymnasium floor.

  For your first attendance in week 3 parade in uniform as there is no need to change into PT kit.

5.  PROTOCOLS

a.  Travelling to and from the Croft Gymnasium

  You must march in class formation, in the uniform of the day. The class formation will stop at the skidpan where you will walk in an orderly single file manner. On your return you will march from the skidpan.

  It must be noted that you are attending a department that is totally separate from training school and that it is in close proximity to an active, working police establishment. Because of this we ask you to consider your behaviour and demeanour and act as "ambassadors" for the training school.

b.  Parading for lessons

  You must parade on the gym floor. Classes should form up in two orderly ranks and wait for your Officer Safety Instructor. You must always parade in correct PT kit (except week 3) with your belt and any equipment that has been issued to you. Please have paper and pen available for each lesson.

  The parade times for your OS lessons are shown on your timetable. This will mean that you will be required to travel (and shower) in your own time which will be before the start of the day, during your 30 minute breaks or your lunch breaks.

  Lateness for any reason other than those already described in this document will be deemed as unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly. Your Training School staff are aware of this protocol.

c.  Dress code—PT Kit

  You will wear a white T-shirt with your last name written in capitals down the left-hand side of the shirt. The shirt will be clean, pressed and will be tucked into black shorts or tracksuit bottoms.

  Please wear white socks that are visible above the ankle and do not wear "trainer liner" style socks. The training shoes that you wear should be predominately white and should be clean. Training shoes shoelaces should be correctly tied at all time and should be visible over the shoe's tongue.

  If you have any queries about PT dress please ask a member of the OS staff.

d.  Showering

  In order to keep the highest levels of hygiene you should consider showering after each relevant Officer Safety lesson.

e.  Jewellery, watches and body piercing

  All jewellery and watches will be removed for Officer Safety lessons. This is a Health and Safety requirement. Boxes for valuables will be provided for the lesson, although it is advisable that if you have an item of real or sentimental value it should be left at your accommodation.

  All body-piercing (rings, studs, or sleepers) will be removed prior to each Officer Safety lesson. Police notice 7/01 fully describes this instruction. To wear body piercings on duty is against MPS policy.

  If for any reason jewellery cannot/will not be removed (ie religious articles) you must seek guidance from the staff. You may be removed from training as Health and Safety is of paramount importance.

f.  Fingernails

  Fingernails must be cut to a short and safe length in order to avoid any injury. If you are unsure ask the Officer Safety staff.

g.  Refreshments

  A drinking-water fountain is situated at the Croft Gymnasium. It is advised that you bring a plastic sports bottle with you in order to remain hydrated during lessons.

  There is also a drinks machine situated at the gym, please do not bring any other kind of refreshment with you.

  No chewing gum/sweets/other food may be consumed during officer safety lessons.

  NB. Failure to comply with these protocols could result in you being placed on a show parade.

SHOW PARADES

  If you are placed on a show parade, you will be required to parade at the Croft Gymnasium during your lunch break on the following day. The parade time will be provided for you. You will be expected to have corrected the element that was the cause of the parade (ie dresscode or lateness).

6.  INJURY OR ILLNESS

  Any injury must be declared to the staff prior to the commencement of the lesson. A decision as to whether you will be able to continue with that lesson will be made at the time and on the merits of that individual situation. A similar process will take place if it comes to the notice of the staff that you are or appear to be "carrying" an injury.

  Any injury sustained during the lesson must be brought to the attention of the instructor and this will then be reported as an "Injury on duty" and your staff room informed.

  If an injury is subsequently identified this must also reported, however on this occasion your HR3(7) training school staff will make the report, as per current procedure.

  If you are ill and feel unable to attend and/or participate in the lesson you must either report self-certificated or certificated sick to your staff and follow their directions otherwise you must attend and participate in the class, as part of your day's duty.

7.  WHITENOTES

  You will receive eight whitenotes specific to Officer Safety, which must be read prior to each lesson.

  Information contained in the whitenotes may appear in your Knowledge Evaluation Exercises (KEEs) in the weeks following the first delivery of the subject. Due to timetable issues the "Weapons Awareness" whitenote will not be tested.

HANDCUFFS

  You will begin your rigid handcuff training in Week 7. In order to assist you with this subject it is important that you consider the following instructions.

    (a)  Read the officer safety whitenote/Handcuffs No 29

    (b)  Identify the five concepts of handcuffing:

      1.  Safe approach

      2.  "Touch and Cuff", using the correct application site

      3.  Out of the . . . Back of hand = Back to Back, and Out of the . . . Palm of the hand = Stack

      4.  Check for tightness and Double lock

      5.  Safe Release

    (c)  Identify the ACPO policy with regard to Handcuffing.

  "The use of handcuffs on another person is a use of force which must be justified". "Handcuffing can only be justified if there is an `honestly held belief' that a prisoner:

(i)  is likely to escape or attempt to escape; or

      (ii)  is likely to offer violence


SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

  We expect you to adhere to the protocols at all times. In addition to this we expect you to be keen, dynamic, respectful, enthusiastic, prompt and appropriate at all times.

  In response to this we will provide you with our full professional support and experience. We will be enthusiastic, diligent, helpful and dedicated.

  Please remember that this is a two-way process and for you to achieve this, this agreement must be subscribed too.



 
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Prepared 14 March 2005