Policing UK 2013 - Police Federation

THE ROLE OF POLICE
“Armed police tactics and
equipment have evolved following
lessons learned from around
the world and the UK.”
The second example is deployment
of TASER. This is perhaps the single
most significant addition to an officer’s
capability. Far less controversial than
issuing firearms and in many cases vastly
more effective, TASER can be deployed
in a wider range of confrontations
from domestic disputes to gang fights
with blade and bottle. It is fear of use
when spotted with a red laser that
often calms people down and in many
cases (internationally up to 80 per cent)
compliance is almost instantaneous.
Non-compliance followed by shock is
statistically proven to be highly effective.
UK police use of TASER has set an
international ‘gold standard’ because
of our stringent guidelines governing its
use effectively and proportionately to a
perceived threat. I advocate more use of
video simulation to give the officer more
challenging decision-making options onscreen
that will further improve his or her
skills. Live fire training is still essential,
but static and dynamic simulation can
add considerably to student turn-around
and consistent competence.
The third example is public acceptance
that specialist armed officers are now a
fact of life. The British model for policing
is unarmed. Our armed response consists
of a small core of very highly trained
officers proficient in a wide range of
tactics who are able to respond rapidly to
all manner of incidents where an armed
response is authorised.
Armed police tactics and equipment
have evolved following lessons learned
from around the world and the UK. Less
lethal options are essential. Gangs do carry
sub-machine guns, handguns, machetes
and knives and are ready to use them in
a confrontation. However, our armed
officers do effectively solve such incidents
without loss of life, mainly because
team work and exemplary training often
matches up to Special Forces standards.
Night vision, thermal imagery, secure
communications and specialisations such
as high-level rope work, sniper training
and use of technology has made our
armed officers a valuable resource.
Underlying all these skills are rules of
engagement within the National Decision
Model that ACPO has clearly set out as
a common national standard in public
order training and deployment, use of
dogs, tactical firearms and anti-terrorist
response, which themselves embody
human rights, UK law and very ‘British’
common-sense.
Providing political resolve continues in
the manner post-2011 rioting established,
with the judiciary delivering sentencing
that acts as a real deterrent, then the
effectiveness of the UK police officer
is under-written by a truly holistic
approach.
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