- Conference
- 2021 Police and Justice Conference
- Date
- 14 June 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Policing has its inherent risks and police staff and officers face conflict and violence on a regular basis. Being assaulted at work is an operational risk but is not something that should be considered as acceptable or part of the job. Those working in the police service deserve, and have the right to full victim support and care if they are assaulted and offenders should be held to account and justice should be pursued.
The Officer and Staff Safety Review (OSSR) undertaken by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing (CoP) published in September 2020, made the following recommendations:
1)Recommendation 21, supervisory arrangements – Chief constables should ensure all line managers understand their responsibilities in providing support to their staff should they become a victim of assault.
2)Recommendation 23 (i), local force plans – Chief constables should implement, as a minimum standard, the seven point plan developed by Hampshire Constabulary, which sets out what officers and staff should expect from their forces if they have been a victim of an assault. The plan should be subject to frequent performance review using a scrutiny panel arrangement.
3)Recommendation 23 (ii), local force plans – All chief constables should take a robust approach to assaults on police officers and staff. If legal, arrest should always be the preferred outcome including in cases where assaults occur in the custody environment.
The wellbeing of our colleagues as a priority is starting to receive a significant level of focus and Operation (Op) Hampshire provides a comprehensive model in the response to assaults incorporating the key themes of supervision, wellbeing, communication, investigation and criminal justice.
The Op Hampshire Seven Point Plan states:
a)Assaults on police officers and police staff should be investigated with the same care, compassion and commitment as an assault on any member of the public.
b)The Victim Code applies to all victims and therefore to assaults on police officers and staff.
c)The assaulted officer must never have to investigate their own assault or write their own statement.
d)Victims recover better and more quickly if they receive the right welfare and supervision.
e)The supervisor must ensure that the local senior command team is informed to provide continuity of welfare support.
f)The assaulted officer and the supervisor must complete an injury on duty report.
g)To achieve a successful prosecution, the best evidence must be presented.
Adopting comprehensive Op Hampshire strategies across all UK forces can ensure that all staff and officers who have been assaulted will be supported in a consistent and effective way.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive (SGE) to:
i)Promote the benefits of Op Hampshire to police branches and police staff members;
ii)Encourage branches to engage locally with their force to monitor effective use of Op Hampshire initiatives;
iii)Survey police staff members about the effectiveness of Op Hampshire for police staff and report back to the SGE.