Calls from the Public to States of Jersey Police - the role of the Honorary Police
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
CALLS TO THE STATES POLICE FROM THE PUBLIC
THE ROLE OF THE HONORARY POLICE
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 Members of the public who require a police service are at liberty to ring either their Parish Hall or their Parish Duty Centenier or the States Police Control Room. When the former occurs attendance is at the discretion of the relevant Parish and there are existing guidelines which set out those issues which must be referred to the States Police irrespective of who first became aware of the incident. The guidelines in this document relate only to those cases in which a caller chooses to report a matter direct to the States Police. It is not possible for this memorandum to cover all eventualities. Personnel, both States and Honorary, will continue to use common sense and discretion in appropriate cases.
1.2 The guidance in this document is intended to ensure that the liabilities of the States Police, the Home Affairs Minister and the Honorary Police are adequately defined.
2. CONTROL ROOM PROCEDURE
2.1 When calls are received at the Police Control Room staff will assess whether, in the context of the incident, the time of day, and the availability of the Honorary Police, a response from Honorary Police would be appropriate. All parishes, except St Helier will be available between 0700 hrs and midnight and also at times outside these hours when they have officers on patrol.
2.2 The above does not preclude St Helier Honorary Police being called to support an operational incident if required and if they are available.
2.3 Whilst it is not possible to offer a definitive list, the States Police should provide first response in the following cases:
• Where there is an immediate threat to public safety.
• Where injuries are involved.
• When an urgent response is required.
• Where specialist investigation skills are likely to be required.
• Where there are unusual political or media sensitivities.
2.4 Notwithstanding that a States Police Unit has been deployed to an incident the control room should in addition consider the deployment of an Honorary Police Unit to provide backup or support.
2.5 If Honorary Officers are available in the appropriate Parish the Control Room should normally utilize them by way of first response in respect of appropriate incidents which could include the following:
• Non-injury road traffic collisions (even when the collision is one that
the States of Jersey Police would not normally attend, the RTC should
be reported to the Honorary Police)
• Noisy parties
• Neighbour disputes (not incidents of domestic violence)
• Minor public disorder
• Loose or escaped animals
• Minor Larceny
2.6 Control Room staff will make a decision about the appropriate levels of response and ensure that the caller is aware of the nature of the response. In the case of Honorary Police response the Control Room will then contact the relevant Duty Centenier or senior officer in a mobile unit and provide the necessary details.
3. COMMITMENT OF THE HONORARY POLICE
3.1 The Honorary Police undertake to advise the Control Room of their general availability. In particular they will inform the Control Room when they have a mobile unit immediately available in a particular parish and similarly advise Control Room when that mobile goes off duty.
3.2 On receipt of a request for assistance from the Control Room, the Duty Centenier or senior officer in a mobile unit will give an assessment of the capability of the Honorary Police to attend the particular call. If it is agreed that honorary officers can attend they will:
• Accept responsibility for the incident
• Attend the incident as soon as practicable
• Report arrival at the scene to the States Police Control Room
• Form an initial assessment. If the incident is more serious than first thought the Control Room will be informed.
• Act in accordance with the law and the relevant code of practice
• Do their best to provide a high standard of service
• Report the outcome to the Control Room who will arrange for any follow up as necessary.
• Submit all relevant reports in a reasonable time.
4.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
4.1 All honorary officers are accountable for their performance and conduct to the Connétable of the parish in which they are operating. States Police officers are accountable to the Chief Officer within the terms of the relevant law.
4.2 The officer in charge of the Control Room is responsible for maintaining a full audit trail of reported incidents from the receipt of the initial information to the point at which a result is recorded, including ensuring that where the Honorary Police are notified/utilized that the radio button on iLog is selected.
4.3 Where an incident is reported directly to the Honorary Police and a unit attends, they will notify brief details to the Force Control Room who will create an ilog for record purposes.
5.
REVIEW
5.1 This Memorandum of Understanding will be reviewed by the Joint Police Strategic Working Group periodically.
Last reviewed and approved by the Group on
3rd February 2006
