Operational partnerships - Community impact assessments policy (O36)

1.1. The following changes have been made to this policy in February 2022:

• policy reviewed - no amendments to content have been made

2.1. A Community Impact Assessment (CIA) measures community tension and is a tool used to establish and measure the effect an incident has, or will have, on communities in Kent. This policy demonstrates the Community Impact Assessment (CIA) process as a precursor to, or during, a critical incident. It also aims to highlight the benefits of the Community Impact Assessment (CIA) process and how this should be viewed as complementary to improving our service delivery, particularly when considering our diverse communities within Kent and Medway.

2.2. CIAs are highlighted in the Critical Incident Management processes and staff should consider the use of a CIA before a critical incident has been declared. Early consideration of a CIA process is vital.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3.1. The police service has a tradition of policing with the consent of the communities it serves. This tradition recognises that policing is at its most successful when it is based on the active and voluntary participation of all members of the community.

3.2. The police service must build and maintain the trust and confidence of citizens by delivering an effective police response to all incidents if it is to gain the participation of the communities it serves. The CIA process is viewed as significant by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in improving our protective services in order to deliver effective protection to the public.

3.3. Involving the community at an early stage will lessen the impact of an incident and provide a bridge between the police and the victim or the wider community. It is important to remember that efforts should be made to identify support from the specific community affected. The completion of CIAs should be considered before utilising a wide range of legislation, such as:

• Coroners and Justice legislation
• Criminal Justice legislation
• Human Rights legislation
• Licensing legislation
• Police Reform legislation
• Public Order and Policing Demonstrations legislation
• Road Traffic legislation
• Serious Organised Crime legislation
• Trade Union legislation
• various Terrorism legislation

3.4. CIAs will specifically be considered relevant to the processes of implementing powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 as well as complementary to the ongoing review of general Terrorism Act powers.

4.1. Finance/staffing/training/other
4.1.1. Independent Critical Incident Advisors (ICIA's) to receive appropriate training three times a year.

4.2. Risk assessments
4.2.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
4.3.1. This policy has been graded as having a high potential impact and an EIA has been completed.

5. Consultation

• County Independent Police Advisory Group
• Independent Critical Incident Advisors (ICIAs)
• Community Liaison Officers
• Finance
• HR

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. This policy and SOP will be reviewed every two years by the policy owner with the next review scheduled for February 2024.  

7. Security

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

8. Retention and disposal of records

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