Going Equipped: Issue 1 Summer/Autumn 2020
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Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 1 Going equipped Issue 1 Summer/Autumn 2020 Issue2 Going equipped 1 | Summer/Autumn | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 2020 Contents Editorial Superintendent Katy Barrow-Grint 3 Practice note: Using BWV in voluntary attendance interviews during the pandemic Sergeant Adele Ward 5 Spotlight on a role: Specialist Tactical Firearms Commander Inspector, anonymous 7 Practice note: Recruiting for diversity Chief Inspector Tony Alogba 8 Five things about ... bitcoin Detective Sergeant Paul Taylor 10 Long read: Diverse perceptions and experiences of domestic abuse Superintendent Dr Alison Heydari 11 Shift in the life of ... a Forward Intelligence Officer Sergeant Michael Richards 19 What I learned from ... being a first responder to a rape, early in my career Police Constable, anonymous 21 My idea: Putting fraud protection advice into prescriptions Fiona Price 22 Best piece of advice: Be the change Sergeant Ben Forbes 23 Long read: The impact of viewing indecent images of children on police wellness and wellbeing Superintendent Neil Ralph 25 With thanks to ... 33 Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 3 Editorial Superintendent Katy Barrow-Grint Thames Valley Police am delighted to be able to bring you the first issue of ‘Going Iequipped’, the new College of Policing publication aimed at sharing experience, learning and practice across the policing family. I see a real thirst for knowledge in our forces, both academically and practically. Many of our officers and staff are undertaking research, discovering what works in policing or looking to share ideas, reflection and examples of practice without a mechanism to do so. ‘Going equipped’ is here to help solve that problem, to ensure we can learn from each other and continually improve policing for our communities. ‘Going equipped’ has picks up on the value of procedural been created to allow a wide range justice in policing domestic abuse of peer-to-peer insights across and introduces concepts such as policing at all roles and ranks, with vicarious trauma and compassion a clear operational and frontline fatigue, which may feel familiar. focus. It is written by you, for you. Contributors also tell us about Anyone can contribute and that bitcoin, the role of the Forward is why this publication will be so Intelligence Team in the Extinction valuable going forward. Rebellion protests in London, This first issue is full of interesting the use of body-worn video in contributions – there is something voluntary attendance interviews for everyone, whatever your role during COVID-19 and the work done in policing. Ali Heydari’s long read, by a specialist tactical firearms which is based on her PhD research, commander, plus much more. 4 Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 While much of this issue of ‘Going that delivering an effective and fair equipped’ was written prior to police service is more important the pandemic, many of the pieces than ever. I believe that continuing of writing have been updated to to share experiences and learning include the authors’ reflections on within policing will be critical as we the significant changes to society move forward. in the past few months. These have I hope you enjoy reading this been challenging times for policing, issue as much as I have enjoyed with the COVID-19 pandemic editing it. If you are interested in affecting how we serve our writing about your ideas, your role, communities, both now and into the something you have done or would future. This, coupled with the focus like to be a peer reviewer, get in on Black Lives Matter following the touch at Goingequipped@college. death of George Floyd, has meant pnn.police.uk Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 5 PRACTICE NOTE Using BWV in voluntary attendance interviews during the pandemic Sergeant Adele Ward Merseyside Police t’s rare to come across a change suspects. Teams that we had not in practice that has been put into anticipated wanting to be involved, Igeneral police use at pace during started to request authority to use the a crisis, but we’ve managed it in process as well. Merseyside. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the In 2019, we launched a pilot UK, Chief Constable Andy Cooke allowing staff to record suspect provided official authority for a full interviews for all offences on body- rollout. After an initial Skype training worn video (BWV) camera at flexible input, staff can now use the process locations, where it was appropriate to protect themselves and the public and safe to do so. We created a from the spread of the virus, and to step-by-step workbook to ensure assist with social distancing while still that this was quick and easy to do progressing investigations to a timely while maintaining the appropriate outcome for victims. risk and legal considerations. This The key to this project’s followed a change in the Police and success has been the culture of Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) empowerment and trust, which has that enables chief constables to allowed innovation to thrive. Staff authorise BWV as approved devices feel empowered to make decisions for interviews, if set criteria about the for the right reason, to help keep environment are adhered to. communities safe. Staff have been As the pilot drew to an end, an able to interview shielded persons independent review team spoke to at their home address with full staff involved and the feedback was personal protective equipment some of the most positive we’ve (PPE). In one instance, officers saw a ever received. Even staff who usually known juvenile out during lockdown struggled with voluntary attendance and found them in possession of (VA) or technology – or at 4am on drugs. The youth was returned home their last night shift – were able to to their parents and an interview breeze through the process. Word was conducted on BWV. That family began to spread about this new, did not need to travel outside, which simple, efficient way to deal with reduced exposure to the virus, and 6 Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 officers were able to finalise the interview juveniles and those with matter efficiently. mobility, mental health or learning The commitment by staff to disability concerns at locations more continue a high level of service convenient for them, away from during these troubled times has police stations. This has assisted with been astounding. Hundreds of safeguarding and has maximised the audio-visual interviews have been potential of each interview. recorded by setting the camera During a recent staff survey on up on a coffee table, mantelpiece general VA, numerous free-text or desk in all sorts of locations, responses were received singing including empty police stations, the praises of the new process partner agency offices, the suspect’s and requesting that it never be place of work and home addresses. taken away as an option, such is There are wider benefits too. the overwhelming enthusiasm in Staff are able to manage their own Merseyside. Perhaps your force could demand more efficiently, avoid VA benefit too? at custody suites during peak times, combat suspect transport problems For further information, and return to their frontline duties please contact Adele Ward more quickly. The process is also ([email protected]. more cost-effective than custody police.uk). Adele is happy to or station-based VA, and is much share implementation documents, better when dealing with vulnerable training and ideas. suspects. It has enabled us to Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 7 Spotlight on a role Specialist Tactical Firearms Commander Inspector, anonymous uthorising a firearms entry into premises where a hostage Ais being held, or where a terrorist cell is planning an attack, is at the highest end of the police use of force. In my role as a Specialist Tactical Firearms Commander, I was responsible for the planning and command of complicated and high- risk firearms operations. The rank required for the role varies across the country (being Inspectors operational environments. The role in the Met, and generally more senior requires in-depth understanding of elsewhere). Assessment via the the capabilities of different firearms Specialist Tactical Firearms Course officers and teams, and the ability to requires commanders to conduct a weigh up intelligence from potentially detailed review of a complex firearms covert and secret sources to prevent operation based on the National serious crimes. Decision Model. Commanders must So how do you progress to this carefully consider probing and role? A broad experience of managing exploring the available intelligence, critical incidents is essential, so that the threat and risk, and the range of you can calmly make decisions in tactical options and contingencies in pressurised operational environments order to inform a working strategy, where your approach could save lives. while taking appropriate powers and As well as quick decision-making, this policies into account. role requires the ability to assimilate In the real world, this can large quantities of intelligence and translate into the rapid deployment match that with the tactical options of significant overt and covert available to you. A calm, professional firearms officers in response to and experienced operational police rapidly changing information about officer in command of the highest a terrorism or crime threat. This end of police use of force may have to involves working closely with Senior justify their decisions for years later, Investigating Officers in some of the particularly where failing to act could most fast-moving and challenging lead to loss of life. A fascinating role. 8 Going equipped | Issue 1 | Summer / Autumn 2020 PRACTICE NOTE Recruiting for diversity Chief Inspector Tony Alogba Greater Manchester Police am currently working as Head of the Positive Action team.