Critical Incidents Flashcards
What is a level 1 critical incident
The following incidents must be investigated as level 1 critical incidents.
• Homicide of a police officer.
• Death or imminent death resulting from the discharge of a firearm by a NSW police officer.
• Death or imminent death from use of police appointments.
• Death or imminent death as a result of the application of physical force by a
NSW police officer.
What is a critical incident
A critical incident means an incident involving a member of the NSW Police Force which resulted in the death of or serious injury to a person:
• arising from the discharge of a firearm by the member
• arising from the use of appointments or application of physical force by the
member
• arising from a police vehicle pursuit or from a collision involving a NSW Police Force vehicle1
• in police custody
• arising from a NSW Police Force operation
What is serious injury
As a guide, types of injuries which of their nature are likely to be ‘serious’ include:
• life threatening injuries
• an injury that would normally require emergency admission to a hospital and significant medical treatment
• an injury likely to result in permanent impairment or long term rehabilitation.
What is immanent death
For the purposes of these guidelines, imminent death means the injury is likely to result in the death of a person and that advice has been provided by a qualified medical practitioner.
What does in custody mean
It is agreed with the NSW State Coroner, ‘in custody’ amounts to being under arrest, and also includes being under the care, protection and responsibility of police officers. In circumstances where police are in close contact and / or attempting to significantly influence or control the person’s behaviour that person may not be in custody but the subject of a police operation.
Who investigates level 1 critical incidents
Homicide squad with oversight from PSC
What is a level 2 critical incident
The following incidents should be investigated as level 2 critical incidents.
• Attempted homicide of a police officer, including serious injuries (subject to Homicide Squad response).
• Death or serious injury of a person in NSW Police Force custody.
• Death or serious injury to a person arising from a NSW Police Force operation.
• Death or serious injury of a person arising from police vehicle pursuit or from a collision involving a NSW Police Force vehicle.
• Serious injury resulting from the discharge of a firearm by a NSW police officer.
• Serious injury from use of police appointments.
• Serious injury as a result of the application of physical force by a NSW police officer.
• The discharge of a NSW Police Force firearm in high risk operational circumstances.
• Suicide or attempted suicide by a NSW police officer or member of the public resulting from the discharge of a police firearm (subject to Homicide Squad response).
Who investigates level 2 critical incidents
In these circumstances there is a mandatory requirement that the investigation will be conducted and led by a critical incident investigation team (CIIT) independent to the incident.
Will normally be independent LAC. Region commander will pick a review officer
In the event if a death due to firearm, appointments or police physical force PSC will review.
In the event of a death the region commander will agree with SCC within 48 hrs as to resources to be used for investigation
What’s considered a police operation
any police operation calculated to apprehend a person(s)
• any police siege
• any police shooting
• a high speed motor vehicle pursuit
• an operation to contain or restrain persons
• an evacuation
• a traffic control / enforcement
• a road block
• execution of a writ / service of process
• any other circumstance considered applicable by the Coroner.
What is the legislation relating to mandatory drug and alcohol testing after a critical incident
Officers directly involved in a critical incident may be required to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing in accordance with section 211A of the Police Act 1990.
What is the LAC commanders role in a critical incident
The local area commander is accountable for the management of the incident scene. The commander is also responsible for liaising with, and providing information to the region commander for the purpose of assessing whether the incident is to be declared a critical one.
Local area commanders should familiarise themselves with the contents of these guidelines, particularly sections on the first officer at the scene, the incident scene guard and the duty officer. One role of the local area commander in the management of the incident scene is to ensure that the actions of these officers have been completed.
The local area commander should ensure compliance with the NSW Police Force Media Policy.
To ensure that the command’s staff are prepared for a critical incident investigation, local area commanders should ensure all staff have access to these guidelines (i.e. hard copy and / or intranet), and that all officers who may be required to attend the scene of a critical incident are aware of the different roles and responsibilities they may have to undertake.
What should I do about welfare needs of staff after a critical incident
It is suggested that the commander explain to all directly involved officers / witnesses at the commencement of the investigation:
• the role of each CIIT member and the type of information they may be seeking
• in broad terms the process to be followed for the investigation and likely timing,
and
• welfare related services available to the officer.
What is the role of the commander at a critical incident.
- Brief the region commander to enable the region commander to determine whether the incident should be declared critical.
- Attend the scene and advise the DOI of arrival. In circumstances where the commander is unable to attend the scene, the commander should appoint a commissioned officer to act on their behalf to ensure the requirements of the local area commander are addressed.
- Obtain a briefing from the duty officer confirming the scene has been preserved; an incident scene guard has been posted; and the witnesses / directly involved officers have been separated and afforded the opportunity to complete an independent record of the event.
- Ensure all welfare aspects are appropriately managed including:
- Provide information to the SCII to assist in the preparation of a SITREP. The preparation of the first and all subsequent SITREPS is the responsibility of the SCII. No other persons are to submit a SITREP.
- Following the incident local area commanders are encouraged, in consultation with the SCII, to provide basic information to staff within the command, stating the facts of what has occurred and to provide support to the officers.
- Where relevant raise with the directly involved officers awareness of the Threats Against NSW Police Force Employees guidelines.
- Following the incident local area commanders are encouraged to invite families to provide feedback or comment on the appropriateness and adequacy of support being provided to family members.
- Consider ongoing welfare needs and support to be provided to officers, including leading up to and during any inquest.
- At the conclusion of investigative and court related processes consideration should be given to advising the directly involved officers of the outcomes of investigations. This should be conducted in consultation with the SCII.
