Police Handbook Flashcards
What are the thing to consider when a large scale aboriginal funeral needs to be held.
Closely assess anticipated Aboriginal community events to determine whether there is a genuine need to increase the number of police available to respond to incidents. Strategically plan how officers are to be deployed on these occasions so they are not intrusive.
Should it be identified that there is a large funeral pending and intelligence suggests potential or existing problems, the following common sense approach is recommended:
• Utilise ACLOs to assess the mood of the community and to facilitate meetings with appropriate members of the community, particularly the immediate family.
• Ideally, the you and/or other suitably experienced police officer should meet the family personally to offer support and assistance with any issues, including potential areas of conflict.
• Offer other police assistance such as Traffic Points, Traffic Plan or police escorts.
• Follow the normal protocol for a funeral whereby police on point duty pay respect to the
family and salute the hearse and immediate family entourage.
• Discuss with the family whether it would be appropriate for an Aboriginal police officer
to lead the procession.
• Give careful consideration to the number of uniformed police present and visible in the
community prior to and on the day of the funeral. Determine through intelligence and
consultation whether it is appropriate or necessary.
• If you have assessed the risks and decide to increase the strength of your policing
capabilities by rostering more police on than normal, advise the immediate family and other respected community members and give your reasons. Keep police visibility in the community and to any media to a minimum, and consider including ACLOs and Aboriginal police from other commands in any visible police presence.
• Be aware that high visibility operations such as HVP or RBT (the day before, the day of and the day after the funeral) may create tensions between police and community. Whilst there may be good reasons for such operations, the necessity for them should be explained to the family.
• Consider other strategies to prevent drink driving or other offences involving motor vehicles during this time.
• Liaise closely with licensed premises in the lead up, during and after the funeral to ensure the responsible serving of alcohol and to consider other strategies that could assist in minimising alcohol related incidents.
• Have a media strategy in place particularly for high profile matters. Contact the Police Media Unit for assistance.
• Seek assistance from the Aboriginal Coordination Team (ACT) as necessary.
What is the commanders responsibility in relation to ACLO’s
Maintain open communication with Aboriginal groups within your command to resolve or minimise differences.
Seek ACLOs help in resolving contentious issues. Give them access to Aboriginal persons in custody. Determine the degree of the access, as applicable.
Utilise ACLOs to contribute to local project management as it relates to crime prevention and participate in community consultation.
What is the process for approving consumption of alcohol on police premises
You may authorise functions, on police premises, at which alcohol is available. You will:
• approve who attends the function
• ensure the function is not held in view of the public or prisoners
• arrange adequate supervision
• ensure proper behaviour is maintained by those attending.
What should occur if an officer loses their appointments
Where an incident is a result of neglect on the part of the officer involved, Commanders should consider initiating action as a complaint under Part 8A of the Police Act 1990.
When can the commander take the appointments of an officer away.
You may decide when officers under your command can perform duty unarmed.
You should withdraw the arms and appointments of an officer on restricted duties for an extended period and return them to the Armoury as a priority.
Similarly, when an officer is on sick leave, or any occasion you consider necessary, you may take their arms and appointments and secure them.
What should the commander do when an officer is on stress leave
Ensure firearms for officers on stress related leave are to be secured in a manner which prevents unauthorised access. If this leave appears to be an extended period they should be returned to the Armoury.
When an officer uses their firearm to put down an animal what is required.
Make inquiries whenever an officer destroys an animal by using a NSWPF firearm.
Ensure officers complete a COPS event.
When police discharge a firearm for the purposes of destroying an animal, the following fields should be completed in COPS:
• Incident Category: Discharge police firearm by police
• Incident further classification: Purposeful
• Associated factor: Animal destruction
What should the commander ensure in relation to gay beats in the command
Be aware of beats in your area; ensure an appropriate level of police response is provided. Crime prevention strategies should be employed to promote safety for all users of the area.
What are country LAC’s required to do in relation to blood sample boxes
Ensure hospitals in your command are checked at least once a week for samples in the security boxes. Keep the keys to the blood transit case and security box at your station.
When the LAC takes leave what is the process for a relief commander
Ensure a relieving commander is nominated and an Authority for command (P522) filled out when a commander will be absent.
Ensure a handover report (P523) is done before a commander leaves for more than four weeks. If a commander will be absent for less than this, complete a handover report at your discretion.
Commanders
Nominate an officer as being responsible in your absence. They do not have to be the next senior officer.
What are the commanders responsibilities in relation to progress increments
Nominate supervisors for your area. Assessment supervisors, other than an education officer, must be more senior in rank than the officer undergoing the assessment.
Ensure a list of officers attached to the command, including increment dates, is displayed in a prominent position.
Analyse assessment results to determine training needs. Follow up officers who have not undertaken or successfully completed it.
You have the same responsibilities as an assessment officer.
What is the commanders responsibility in relation to computer repair or replacement
Ensure a Confidentiality Agreement has been signed before you allow any service Organisation to repair a computer from your command.
Also, arrange for BTS to erase data from the hard disk before the drive is removed or lodged at the service centre for repair or replacement.
Personnel carrying out the service or receiving the computer or hard disk at the service centre must provide a data destruction certificate as evidence the data and programs have been erased.
If the data cannot be erased from the hard disk, then the disk has to be destroyed and replaced. This should be stated on the data destruction certificate.
Copies of the confidentiality agreement and the data destruction certificate are available on the Intranet.
Before the computer is sent to the repairer ensure data and programs which are to be kept by the NSW Police Force are copied.
Also, ensure any exchange of equipment which affects the asset register is updated.
What is the commanders responsibility when transferring a computer to another LAC or section
When you transfer a computer to another command:
• complete an Asset transfer form
• update your command’s Assets Register
• make a copy of any file to be kept from the hard disk
• delete all files from the hard disk.
Do not transfer software programs without the appropriate licence agreement.
If the computer contains sensitive information, the transferring commander is to get a certificate from the appropriate computer support officer declaring any files have been permanently deleted.
How long are you required to keep certificates for computers
Keep for two years from the date of issue, any certificate or form issued in connection with the disposal, transfer or repair of any computer, hard drive, diskette or floppy disk.
What is the commanders responsibility in relation to investigating deaths
When possible, ensure an experienced officer investigates a death or fire (never a probationary constable). Ensure a member of the Homicide Squad (State Crime Command) is notified where child abuse is suspected.
Pursuant to Police Service Notice 01/20; in circumstances where death is not known to be from natural causes, and a death certificate (not a “Life pronounced Extinct” certificate) has not been issued by a medical practitioner, it is a standing direction that local Detectives and Forensic Services investigators be called to attend.
How does a commander authorise an affidavit of assistance
Confirm the information in the report is accurate. Examine supporting documents. If satisfied it is appropriate to provide an Affidavit of Assistance, having regard to the seriousness of the offence(s) and the level of assistance provided, prepare the affidavit by:
• stating you are the case officer’s senior supervisor
• including a paragraph with words to the effect, “Annexed to this affidavit and marked
with the letter ‘A’ is a report by (case officer’s name), dated (date signed). I have conducted appropriate inquiries and I am satisfied the contents of the annexure(s) are true and accurate”
• marking the case officer’s report with ‘A’, fastening it to the affidavit and signing it as the senior supervisor
• swearing and signing the affidavit before a JP who is not associated with the investigation.
File a copy of the report and affidavit. Hand the originals to the case officer. If you refuse to provide an affidavit and the case officer requests the matter be reviewed, make the necessary arrangements with your commander.
What are the commanders obligations in relation to brief handling
You have a responsibility through your Crime Manager to ensure that all briefs of evidence (summary, indictable and coronial) within your command:-
• display a high standard of professionalism to reflect the integrity of police investigations and brief preparation;
• are complete and timely within the time standards of the court;
• are handled under the quality assurance and continuous improvement process; and that
appropriate:-
o supervision and support for the management of this function is in place, o systems, and processes are in place to maintain these standards,
o educative action (see Failed Prosecution Guidelines), managerial and/or
disciplinary action is taken when a matter is dismissed due to non-compliance,
poor performance and/or a system failure, and
o security, storage and archiving of briefs of evidence in accordance with the
Archives and Disposal Manual and Schedule. © 2013 Crown Copyright ( NSW Police Force ) (Mar 2013)
What are the different colour folders for court matters
Ensure availability of coloured brief folders.
Cream – local court charges and CANs Green – local court summons
Blue – children’s court matters
Red – matters to be prosecuted by the DPP.
Whats the process for the commander when notified of a failed prosecution
Upon electronic notification, assess whether the matter is a complaint under the Police Act and initiate an investigation through your Complaints Management Team having regard to:-
• Reason(s) for non-compliance;
• Police informant’s role/contribution;
• Any system failure or weakness which may have contributed;
• Any managerial or supervisory shortfalls or other related issues,
• Any other causative or contributory factors including managerial action to avoid any
reoccurrence, and
• Any educational and training needs
What is your obligation in relation to prosecution liaison groups
You or senior members of your command are to remain a constant member, and attend each meeting, of the group for your area.
Explain the commanders responsibility in relation to issuing a freezing notice
As the Commissioner’s delegate Superintendants can authorise, on behalf of a police officer under your command, an application to ‘Confirm a Freezing Notice’ within 14 days from the issue of a Freezing Notice. You are required to confirm the notice by signing an authorisation (Part A) and enter an undertaking (Part B) to pay costs and damages for costs associated with making and operating a Freezing Notice.
What must you consider when bringing witness long distance to identify a body.
Ensure the cheapest means are used. Satisfy yourself no other means are available locally, before allowing someone to travel a long way. Make sure the person is not travelling for another purpose, i.e. funeral or collecting property.
When the death is the subject of an inquest and the person making the identification is called as a witness, any claim for reimbursement is made when seeking expenses for going to the Coroner’s Court.
If someone, who is asked to identify a body, needs the NSW Police Force to pay fares, arrange this in accordance with the procedures laid down for Crown witnesses. Any order or requisition issued for this is endorsed ‘recoverable’ from the Attorney General’s Department.
When the Coroner dispenses with an inquest, or where the claimant is not called as a witness, or wants payment before it, detail all expenses sought and send the report through your commander to the region commander for consideration by Attorney General’s.
What do you do initially if you have an aboriginal death in custody
If an Aboriginal person dies in police custody, secure and preserve the scene and notify your region commander.
Professional Standards Command maintains a comprehensive review role in the investigation and liaises with the family.
Use the ACLO, if available, to maintain a relationship with all relatives particularly about the movement of the body etc.
What should you consider in relation to access of the appointments of an officer who has been charged with DV of been served with an AVO
Determine what action should be taken over the firearm, under what circumstance, if any, the officer will access it and the nature of duties to be performed. Until such direction is forthcoming, place the officer on duties which do not need appointments to be worn.
In all circumstances, advise your Region Commander.
Keep the NSW Police Force firearm until the AVO is confirmed or revoked. (If confirmed take appropriate action).
Bear in mind the duty of care when considering the return of NSW Police Force firearms to an officer who is the subject of an AVO or has been in the past ten years. Initiation of proceedings for an AVO constitutes a complaint under the Police Act.
When an officer is served with an AVO what is the arresting officers responsibility and what role do you play
Where you make a complaint for an AVO against a Police Officer, fax a copy of that complaint, any other supporting material if available and a report endorsed by your Commander, to Crown Solicitors Office giving them instructions to appear on your behalf. Make telephone contact with the Crown Solicitors office to confirm that they have received those instructions. Ensure that a Police Officer is at court to give the Crown Solicitors representative further instructions.
What are my obligations in relation to drug exhibits
Exercise your authority and, at every opportunity, order destruction in accordance with the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.
What are my responsibilities in relation to political meetings and polling booths
Arrange for sufficient police at all important polling places and venues where candidates are addressing meetings. Ensure voters are not prevented from exercising the right to record their vote. Preserve order.
Make sure officers have nothing to do with the care or custody of ballot boxes.
Ensure adequate police supervision at polling booths near hotels or other licensed premises.
What is work place diversity
Workforce diversity relates to gender, age, language, ethnicity, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation and religious belief. It also refers to the multitude of ways we are different in other respects such as personality, life experience, work style, socio-economic background, rank/grade, classification, proximity to headquarters, marital status and whether or not one has family or other carer responsibilities. It is also about:
• supporting our corporate objectives (refer NSWPF Corporate Plan 2012-2016 – “Respectful equitable and diverse workforce reflective of our community”)
• entrenching workforce diversity into our business by aligning it to our commitment to treat everyone with respect and courtesy; and
• recognising and respecting every one’s unique attributes and providing a positive and respectful working environment for all.
