Relevant Background Documents to Bulletin 6

To accompany the sixth learning the lessons bulletin, we have provided a case issues table and links to various documents which might be of interest to the reader.

Case issues table

Attached is a table which matches the 15 cases that appear in the bulletin to the circumstances of the case and then to key issues (e.g. call handling and working with other agencies).

Background Information

Below are a number of web links to different legislation, guidance and information which have been referred to or are relevant to the cases included in the bulletin.  It is, however, very much a selection and is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all relevant documents.

Road Traffic Incidents

• Police Road Traffic Incidents
  
  This IPCC research analyses fatalities arising from road traffic incidents involving police vehicles over recent years in order to identify lessons for policy and practice.

Missing Persons

• The Missing Persons Bureau
  
  The Missing Person Bureau aims to improve missing persons investigations and the police response.  Further information can be found on the NPIA website.

• The Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons (2005)
  
  This document provides guidance on the levels of service required from the police when dealing with reports of missing persons.

Call handling

• National Call Handling Standards
  
  This ACPO document sets out common definitions for emergency calls and call grading and lays down response times.

Custody

• Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes
  
  You will find here the PACE Codes referred to in the learning reports on custody issues.
• Guidance on the Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody
  
  This Guidance was produced jointly by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
• Life Signs Monitoring Cells review
  
  A Home Office review of Life Signs Monitoring in Custody Cells confirms that they are of potential use and benefit to forces but calls for guidance and other safeguards to ensure the appropriate parameters for their use are established.

Information

• The management of police information
  
  Guidance on the Management of Police Information 2006, produced on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Offices by the National Centre for Policing Excellence.

Domestic Abuse

• ACPO guidance on investigating domestic violence (2008) -
  
  This guidance provides the Police Service with detailed information relating to the investigation and policing of domestic abuse cases.

Mental Health

• The Mental Health Act 2007
  
  An Act to amend the Mental Health Act 1983.

• Code of Practice: Mental Health Act 1983 (2008)
  
  This revised Code of Practice has been prepared in accordance with section 118 of the Mental Health Act 1983 by the Secretary of State for Health.  

• Standards on the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007
  Royal College of Psychiatrists standards on the use of section 136.
  
  The ACPO Homicide Working Group has established a subgroup looking at issues in connection with suicide, with a view to producing national plans and guidelines in relation to such matters as suicide prevention.

Skips

• Highways Act 1980 Section 139
  
  This links allows you to navigate to the statutory provision that requires builders’ skips to be properly lit and marked. The detailed regulations are in the Builders’ Skips (Markings) Regulations 1984 (Statutory Instrument 1984 No 1933).

Police Dogs

• ACPO Police Dog Training and Care Manual - ACPO are awaiting updated version of manaul (Nov 2009)
  
  This is the current version of the Police Dog Training and Care Manual produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers.