Operational partnerships - Force command policy (O42)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in February 2024:

• no amendments to content have been made

2. What this policy is about

2.1. Kent Police deliver an effective police response to all incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This policy ensures a robust system is in place to enable the command and control of major and critical incidents at any time.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedure is mandatory.

3. Application

3.1 Kent Police command philosophy is underpinned by a cadre of trained and accredited officers at gold and silver levels that reflects the force strategic threat and risk assessment and national policing commitments. The minimum level of training and accreditation required will reflect the minimum requirements specified within authorised professional practice guidance. It will be the responsibility of individual directorate heads to ensure that command resilience is regularly reviewed and that steps are taken to address shortfalls. A 24/7 command structure is in place to ensure that the force has an effective response to spontaneous incidents. To protect the public from harm, the aim of this policy is to provide clear structure, command management and training for Gold, Silver and Bronze Commanders.  

3.2. The Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty upon specified authorities (which includes the police) to ensure that their functions are discharged having due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. The contact which all officers and staff have with members of the public provides them with opportunities to identify concerns and trigger the appropriate prevent response to ensure their protection. It is essential that officers and staff understand the issues of radicalisation, are able to identify why people may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism as a consequence of it and how to obtain support for people who may be being exploited by radicalising influences (details are contained within the prevent duty and the channel duty). This policy has been reviewed and assessed that the CTSA duties could be relevant. 

4. Implications of the policy

4.1. Finance/staffing/training/other

4.1.1. Finance - there is a requirement for commanders to be trained to nationally accredited standards. 

4.1.2. Staffing - a strategic oversight is required of trained staff to ensure there are no resilience issues.  

4.1.3. Training - commanders must be nationally accredited.

4.2. Risk assessment

4.2.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

4.3.1. An EIA has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion, or belief or sexual orientation.

5. Consultation

• Commanders
• Comprehensive Spending Review Team
• Heads of Departments
• Human Resources
• Finance
• Health and Safety
• Equality and Diversity
• Legal
• Freedom of Information 

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. This policy will be reviewed every two years. It is next due for review in February 2026. 

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.