Transcript of this meeting [PDF]

the Home Office or the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) or any other bodywho wants to review that, because, if it is an opportunity to listen, learn and rationalise,of course we would take that opportunity.It has got to be recognised that, often, guidance is written in response to specificincidents. Perversely - I do not make this point as a cheap shot - a lot of the guidancecomes out of coroners’ inquests, the MPA and the Independent Police ComplaintsCommission (IPCC) recommendations. Trying to get the balance between putting instandard operating procedures to deal with things that we once went wrong but notending up with a mountain of standard operating procedures is very difficult.My personal view is I do not think we have got that balance right. I think we have got fartoo many standard operational procedures which are, largely, lists of something that oncewent wrong, instead of trying to be positive. I think we do have to revisit those lists ofstandard operating procedures. The point he makes is well received because I think weneed to do something around it.With regards to the jury’s comments, we do consider the option of using third partynegotiators - that is part and parcel of the negotiator’s consideration - but, as wasexplained at the inquest, there are a number of reasons why it was not deemedappropriate to use a close family member. That is always, as far as we are concerned,based on all the best advice received around the world. It is an option you mightconsider, but it is always an option that has with it very, very real dangers in terms ofvarious emotions.I can circulate here a whole list of what we have done since 2008. It is an extensive list.I think it has all been reported previously but I am happy to circulate it.Kit Malthouse (Chairman): Are you happy for it to be circulated?Dee Doocey (AM): I am but I would like to come back if I may?Kit Malthouse (Chairman): Yes.Dee Doocey (AM): Thank you very much for that answer. What I am still not getting isyou say we are going to do something. Have you learned any lessons and have you putanything in place to address this? I was particularly concerned that it said that there weresix protocols covering the use of firearms. I am assuming these are ACPO guidelines. Ido not know. I also note that you have just said you did not think there was too muchdocumentation but it seems to me, as a lay person, that six protocols covering somethingis far too much for anyone to read, let alone take in. I wondered if you had any plans thatyou had actually sorted out so that, as from next week or as from last month, you areaddressing A, B and C and, in order to do it, you have put in place X, Y and Z? That isnot coming across and that was really what my question was about.www.merrillcorp.com33