Annual Report

Uniform Operational Policing

UNIFORM OPERATIONAL POLICING BUSINESS AREA

Uniform Operational Policing is a broad term which includes many facets of policing, for example: Response Policing, Neighbourhood Policing, Critical Incident Management, Civil Contingency & Emergency Planning, Roads Policing, Public Order Policing, Armed Policing and CBRN, as well as the ‘specialists’ like, Dogs, Horses, Marine, Diving, Air Support and all those search disciplines.

Throughout the year the Uniformed Operations Business Area has engaged across a number of ACPO Business Areas and has (through its extended network) sat on a number of ACPO Committees and working parties.

The Business Area has responded, both formally and informally, to a number of consultations, including Guidance on Command and Control, the ‘Article 2’ note making and interoperability debate, CBRN, Road Safety Compliance, Motorway Service Areas, Emergency Procedure Guidance Document and Development of the Civil Contingencies Act - to name a few.

On Road Safety Compliance as an example, we emphasised that enforcement and compliance with road traffic law is a crucial part of raising driving standards and improving safety. The document rightly focuses on the behaviours that we know to cause death and injury: speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt and careless driving - and we said so.  We welcomed the decision not to lower the minimum penalty for breaking the posted speed limit and the move to encourage more breath testing by the police. However, we expressed our concern that the opportunity has not been taken to lower the current blood alcohol level.

The Business Area has maintained close links with the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety, with attendance at a number of their events including the AGM throughout the year.

We met with lobbyists on topics that may be of interest to members, for example the Gun Control Network, to discuss their concerns regarding the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. Those discussions included; the definition of an imitation, air pistol ‘look-alikes’ and the growth in ‘air-soft’ weapons.

The Business Area was represented at the National Roads Policing Conference by the Vice Chairman, Derek Barnett.

The highlight of the year for the Uniformed Operational Policing Business Area took place in Nottingham on February 26^th and 27^th when more than 40 forces from England and Wales were represented at our conference by the Heads of their respective Operations Departments in what is believed to be the first conference of its kind.

Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes highlighted the challenge with the sobering reality that in addition to the Games, 2012 is the year of HRH Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. The Games will take place against the background of all the usual events we would expect in the capital such as; Wimbledon, the start of the Premier League, the Rugby League Challenge Cup and the Notting Hill Carnival… and also coincide with the Feast of Ramadan!

Chief Constable Hughes outlined the national strategy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and described in detail the structures required to deliver it. Chief Constable Martin Baker from Dorset gave an equally fascinating presentation on the impact of the games on a smaller force, with a particular emphasis on the yachting and water-borne events.

To complete that first look at the Olympics and finalise the year, the Business Area Executive made a presentation to the Joint Annual Joint Meeting of the Executives of PSAEW, SANI and ASPS on the Olympics and the potential implications of and impact upon our members.

Alan Horton

Chief Superintendent