Freedom of Information request 318-14
Q1. How much training do your police officers receive each year in first aid and
self defence?
Q2. Authorised Professional Practice (College of Policing - incorporating
Guidance on Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody)
advocates police officers risk assess detainees from the point of arrest and take
them to hospital if necessary - Do you expect your officers to adhere to this
national policy and if so can you guarantee that they do so?
Clarification received:
To clarify a financial year will be fine – 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 would be ok.
Examples I am aware of for other police services Published in Police Review (12
May 2006) were for 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 e.g. Durham 2 days;
Bedfordshire 24 hours; GMP 6 hours.
I appreciate nowadays most first aid and self defence training is now combined
e.g. Northumbria: 2 days per year including first aid training on each day.
I am seeking more current information hence April 2012 to March 2013 would be
ideal.
I am currently doing a BSc (Hons) in Policing and Investigation at Teesside
University and my dissertation is titled: Does the initial police response to
incidents put the public at risk and if so presents a danger of litigation to the
police?
I would be very grateful if your organisation would consider granting me
permission to use the information I seek in my dissertation in a table format to
compare how much first aid and self defence training is given by each police
service in England and Wales.
Question 2 relates to officers responding to initial incidents and whether they put
into practice what they have been taught in theory. I appreciate risk assessment is
a part of student officer training under National Occupational Standards (IPLDP)
and is refreshed via first aid and self defence/NDM training. I understand generally
most decision making by officers is correct but sometimes mistakes are made. My
research area focuses on this area and attempts to address why mistakes are
sometimes made and is there anything that can be done to minimise or prevent
such mistakes.
No criticism of your police service will be made should your organisation consent
to the data being used in my dissertation as that is not the aim of the research.
The data table will show that forces do deliver refresher training covering the
relevant areas.
RESPONSE
Question 1
British Transport Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers receive 4 hours
emergency first aid training annually. They also receive 8 hours of Personal Safety
training together with an e-learning package of approximately 2 hours duration.
Additionally, Custody trained Sergeants receive 4 further hours of Custody First Aid
training annually.
Question 2
Our Learning and Development department have provided the following information in
relation to risk assessments.
Officers are expected to risk assess based on:
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Situation
Circumstances
History of event
Information given or provided by witnesses / person
Personal knowledge and expertise
Training general
Training first aid
Officers should then make a decision if that person requires medical aid. If the person is
detained and taken to a Police Station under arrest, the Custody Officer will make an
initial judgement if the person is fit to be there and if not they are sent to hospital. This
action is not uncommon.
A formal documented risk assessment takes place which is required under Code C of
PACE where more detailed questions are asked and explored to determine the correct
level of care. This may cause a transfer to hospital. Control measures also include
medical attention (medical opinion) via a contract within 1 hour. All detainees are subject
to at least hourly visits to assess their condition and well being. It is not uncommon for a
person to require medical attention either at the station or hospital as a result of a
change in their condition identified through these checks. The risk assessment process
allows for ongoing assessments which identify errors or changes.
The Safer Detention Manual from 2006 and 2012 has considerably influenced and
informed the treatment of persons in custody and deaths in police custody have reduced
year on year since 2006.
If you require further information in relation to the success of risk assessments
procedures, the Independent Police Complaints Commission may be able to provide
further information.