Operational partnerships - Abnormal indivisible loads SOP (R01h)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. The following changes have been made to this standard operating procedure (SOP) in March 2022:

• paragraph 3.1.1 updated 

2. What this procedure is about

2.1  This SOP applies to all Kent Police personnel.

2.2  This SOP provides guidance for managing abnormal indivisible load (AIL) movements and police escorting of AILs.

2.3  An AIL is a load which is transported on the road, cannot be divided into other loads and does not comply with the normal legal requirements in relation to size and weight.

The following legislation provides the legal basis for vehicle weights, lengths, widths and AIL notification requirements; they should be considered during the course of the implementation of this SOP:

• The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended)
• The Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998 (as amended)
• The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

An AIL is a vehicle with:

• a gross weight of more than 44,000 kg (44 tonnes)
• and/or a width of more than 2.9 m
• and/or a rigid length of more than 18.65 m
• an axle load of more than 10,000 kg for a single non-driving axle and 11,500 kg for a single driving axle
• over 105 mm (1 ft) overhang on either side or over 3.05 m (10 ft) overhang on front or rear

NPCC Guidance on the Movement of Abnormal Indivisible Loads (2010) has been considered during the production of this SOP.

Compliance with this procedure and any governing policy is mandatory.

3. Detail the procedure

3.1 Management of notifications

3.1.1  The Abnormal Loads Officer (ALO), Traffic Management Unit (TMU) will manage all notifications sent to Kent Police. Once a notification is received it will be reviewed by the ALO, and responded to accordingly.

3.1.2  Standard conditions of movement are sent in response to a notification. These include self-escort requirements.

3.1.3  Some AILs are subject to Special Order (SO) applications. These are managed by Highways England and require comment by Kent Police. They may be subject to specific conditions of movement determined by the ALO and TMU.

3.2  Dispensations

3.2.1  Agricultural dispensations are issued by the ALO and run from 1 June to 31 May. They specifically relate to the movement of agricultural machinery and are subject to conditions set by the ALO. Each dispensation will have specific dimensions set within the conditions to reflect the type of agricultural machinery.

3.2.2  Haulier dispensations are issued by the ALO and run from 1 January to 31 December. They can be issued to hauliers with regular loads and are subject to conditions set by the ALO. Each dispensation will have a specific number of movements set within the conditions to reflect the expected quantity of movements within the period.

3.2.3  Special dispensations are issued by the ALO and run from 1 January to 31 December. They can be issued to organisations needing to move AILs not classified as agricultural equipment or as a haulier and may be issued to the Military or Environment Agency but not exclusively. Each dispensation will have specifically tailored conditions set by the ALO.

3.3  Police escort

3.3.1  Hauliers may determine that their AIL requires a police escort. They can be requested directly by the haulier or on discussion with the ALO.  

• here are no specified AILs which automatically require a police escort 
• each individual AIL and route is assessed based on whether the load is able to safely navigate the prescribed route utilising other methods of traffic management
• if there are sections of the route whereby police officers would be required to facilitate its safe passage, a police escort may be appropriate
• the haulier abnormal load route assessment (HALRA) should be used in the assessment for the requirement for a police escort

The principal aim of a police escort is to reduce risk to the public, other road users and those involved in the movement of the AIL. 

Kent Police's role when escorting an AIL is to facilitate the safe movement of the AIL and manage traffic which directly impacts on it but police should not be expected to conduct road closures which could be pre-planned utilising other traffic management methods.

There are no specific powers for the police escorting of AILs and no legal requirements for any AIL to be escorted. Police powers for the escorting of AILs are derived from Section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 37 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. 

3.3.2  Where a police escort has been agreed, the ALO will advise the haulier that a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) is to be established engaging all involved parties. The haulier will be responsible for the management of the movement with supportive functions being carried out by the police, private escorts, and other agencies such as Highways England, KCC, client, media, and local councils. 

3.3.3  All police escorted abnormal loads are subject to special police services contracts (SPS) and a memorandum of understanding (MoU). As per NPCC guidance, only officers performing overtime on their rest days will be utilised if the duty is requested at private special duty rate. 

3.3.4  The required police resources will be determined by way of consultation between the ALO, TMU and abnormal load escort team leaders.

3.3.5  As per NPCC guidance, "only police officers that have had specific training or experience, including instruction on and knowledge of escorting or convoy duties, along with the legislation relating to AILs, will be utilised." These will be officers from across the force and will form part of an approved pool of officers. Each officer within this pool will be located in a skill category to include team leader (TL), motorcycle and car capability on the AIL police resources database.

3.3.6  The ALO will advise the force resource unit (FRU) of the required dates and resources required for them to determine the availability of officers from the AIL police resources database.

3.3.7  Officers will be provided with an escort pack containing relevant information relating to the individual AIL, including the TMP, notified dimensions and route. 

3.3.8  As per NPCC guidance, "an escort will not be commenced until the AIL has been examined to ensure it fully complies with the legislation, including lighting, marking and construction and use legislation." The relevant paperwork pertaining to dimensions of the particular AILs will be contained within the escort pack. The 'Abnormal loads check sheet' must be completed by the escort team leader. 

3.3.9  As per NPCC guidance, all AIL police escort officers should:

• receive instruction on AIL legislation
• be proactive in regulating and enforcing AIL movements
• only be permitted to perform escort duties after having received instruction and training in AIL escorts
• should check dimensions, lighting and markers of an AIL before an escort is commenced
• only commence an escort when fully conversant with the proposed route
• only commence an escort where the AIL and route have been fully risk assessed
• where possible, advise the ALO if there is a requirement to divert from the notified route and inform FCR of the diversion

3.3.10 On completion of a police escorted AIL, the TL will submit the 'Abnormal loads check sheet' to the ALO detailing any issues or concerns on the movement.

3.3.11  Only marked police vehicles which are suitable should be used for the escorting of AILs. 

3.3.12 It is the responsibility of the haulier to ensure the safe operational passage of an AIL within Kent.

When required, the ALO will retain the right to deviate from this SOP.

4. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

4.1. This is a 'procedural' SOP and the proposals in this SOP are highly unlikely to have any potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

5. Risk assessment

5.1  This procedure has been assessed as having a low risk.

6. Consultation

• Information Security
• Professional Standards Department
• HR
• Health and safety
• Legal Services
• Finance
• Estate Department
• Unison
• Police Federation
• Superintendents Association

7. Monitoring and review

7.1 This document will be monitored and reviewed every two years by the policy owner.

7.2 This SOP is next due for review in March 2024.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy.

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy.