Decision Making and Communication Skills Flashcards
What is the mnemonic used to remember the NDM decision making stages?
The mnemonic CIAPOAR…
Code of Ethics
The policing principles and standards of behaviour.
Information
Gather information and intelligence.
Assessment
Assess threat and risk, and develop a working strategy.
Powers and Policy
Consider powers and policy
Options
Identify the options and contingencies.
Action
Take action.
Review
Review the actions taken
What information does an officer have to give an arrested person to make the arrest lawful?
S28 PACE
- that they are under arrest
- the grounds for the arrest, i.e. the offence for which they have been arrested, and
- the reason(s) for the arrest being necessary.
What nine criteria does PACE Code G set out whereby at least one must be met for their arrest to be deemed necessary (Necessity Test)?
The reasons are stated in PACE under Section 24(5)(a) to (f) as follows:
These are easily summarised by the mnemonic IDCOPPLAN.
Investigation - Prompt and effective investigation. Many ways can do this without arresting someone. Must be very clear as to why an arrest was necessary to meet this objective (you may be asked to justify why).
Disappearance - Need to stop them running away? Reason to believe they would not present themselves to a police station at a later date/time for an interview?
Child - Also applies to vulnerable person i.e. the arrest should be to protect a child or vulnerable person.
Obstruction - e.g of the highway.
Physical Injury - Not only to the suspect but also any other person.
Public decency – Self-explanatory.
Loss or damage – To property.
Address – In order to ascertain someone’s address.
Name - Same as address, how do you know the person is who they say they are?
Code of Ethics
The nine policing principles are:
Accountability, Integrity, Openness, Fairness, Leadership, Respect, Honesty, Objectivity, Selflessness
Levels of Resistance
Profiled Subject Behaviour
COMPLIANCE
The subject responds immediately to the officer’s request, directions or instructions
VERBAL RESISTANCE & GESTURES
The subject starts at the lowest form of resistance with verbals and gestures and can even be as low as ‘NO’ (verbal resistance) and the shaking of the head (gesture). This could indicate a measure of non-compliance to the officer.
PASSIVE RESISTANCE
Whilst it has been generally accepted that a protester who sits in the road in lawful protest is passive it has been found that when trying to move or control such subjects it escalates beyond passive resistance. Any subject who remains inert (dead weight) when officers are attempting to control them could be regarded as demonstrating passive resistance.
ACTIVE RESISTANCE
This is when a subject shows his intention not to remain with an officer for whatever reason. This can involve pulling or pushing away or even running away. In this case the intention is not to remain with an officer but nor is it to cause him/her any physical harm.
AGGRESSIVE RESISTANCE
The subject instead of pulling or pushing away from an officer now tries to use a higher level of force against them, such as strikes or kicks. With this level of resistance there is some degree of intent.
SERIOUS/AGGRAVATED RESISTANCE (With or without a weapon)
If a subject is offering resistance to an officer who falls down and suffers a head injury this could be termed a serious resistance. If the subject then followed it up by continuing to attack the officer with strikes or kicks, this is now aggravated resistance. The subject could have stopped when the officer suffered the head injury. At this level, intent to injure will clearly be displayed by the subject.
Reasonable Officer Response Options
Options Include:
· Adoption of a proper/ready stance
· Approaching or withdrawing
· Communication
· Drawing appropriate PPE
· Exercising powers
· Gathering evidence
· Issuing orders
· Liaison with other agencies
· Observation
· Use of empty hand skills
· Use of irritant spray
· Use of baton
· Use of handcuffs
· A permutation of options
THINK!
What- Options are available to me?
Consider- Immediacy of the threat
Limits- Of information to hand.
Amount- Of time available
Available- Resources & support
You- Your knowledge, experience & skills
Impact- Of your potential actions on the situation and the public.
Force- Was it proportionate, legitimate, necessary & reasonable in the circumstances?
Contingencies- What will I do if things do not happen as I anticipate?
When considering the use of force on a person we should be asking ourselves: Is what I am doing (or about to do):
1. Proportionate? 2. Lawful? 3. Accountable? 4. Necessary?
Communication Skills
LEAPS!
Listen
Empathise
Ask
Paraphrase
Summarise
Five-Step Communication Model
Step 1 Simple Appeal - ASK
- Ask the individual to comply with the officer’s request. Some members of the public will respond to a direct request from a police officer.
Step 2. Reasoned Appeal – TELL THEM WHY
- Explain why the request has been made, what law if any has been broken, and what conduct has caused the request.
Step 3. Personal Appeal – GIVE OPTIONS
- This may remind the individual that they may be jeopardising values that are high priorities to them such as:
• The loss of free time if arrested or while in court or imprisonment
• The loss of money to pay travelling expenses or court fines, costs, etc.
Step 4. Final Appeal - CONFIRM
- At this stage individuals have confirmed their resistance to the officer’s requests. The officer should now finally tell them what is required and use a phrase that means the same as the following example:
- “Is there anything I can reasonably say to make you co-operate with me/us?”
Step 5. Action- ACT
- Reasonable force may be the only option left in a case of continued resistance. The technique that the officer chooses will be based upon the threat that they perceive.
Cooper’s Colour Code
Cooper developed the system to give law enforcement officers an immediate visual system, reflecting changes of threat within their environment.
White- Switched off Denial response
Yellow- Switched on
Orange- Evaluate and Decide
Red- Fight or flight
