Operational partnerships - Public and personal safety training SOP (O43a)

O43a Public and Personal Safety Training

O43 Staff Safety

1. Summary of Changes

1.1. The following changes have been made to this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in February 2024:

• References to Personal Safety Training updated to Public and Personal Safety Training;
• Paragraph 3.2.3 updated.

2. What this Procedure is About

2.1. This SOP outlines the requirements for Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) for officers and staff across the whole organisation, in accordance with the College of Policing (COP) Guidance on PST.

2.2. This procedure also acknowledges the PPST requirements of those officers and staff on limited duties who are able to have contact with the public

2.3 Police officers and staff are covered by the Equality Act 2010. They are also covered by European legislation. Disability is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 which places a duty on employers to consider and make adjustments where reasonable. Larger employers such as police forces will need to demonstrate that they have considered all reasonable adjustments in the context of operational resilience.

2.4 Officers and staff subject of limited duties are risk assessed by their line manager, including their ability to have contact with members of the public and what duties they may undertake. Managers will need to gain Occupational Health/ FMO guidance and officer agreement to ensure a clear understanding of the risk level involved and that risk cannot be completely removed.

Compliance with this SOP and any governing policy is mandatory.

3. Detail the Procedure

3.1. The PPST Programme consists of the following modules, in accordance with the COP Guidance on PPST:

Police Officers and members of the Special Constabulary:

• National Decision Model
• Tactical Communication
• Medical Implications
• Use of Force Reporting
• Tactical Positioning
• Approaching People and Vehicles
• Personal Protection Skills
• Edged Weapons Awareness
• Baton Use
• Physical Restraints
• Mechanical Restraints/Limb Restraints
• Incapacitant Spray
• Searching of Individuals
• Taser (specialist trained units only, refer to policy O15a).

3.1.2. Forensic Nurse Practitioners (FNP), Crime Scene Investigators (CSI), PSE Investigators and public facing roles based on risk assessment:

• National Decision Model
• Tactical Communication
• Medical Implications
• Tactical Positioning
• Edged Weapons Awareness
• Personal Protection Skills

3.1.3. Police Community Support Officers (PCSO):

• National Decision Model
• Tactical Communication
• Medical Implications
• Use of Force Reporting
• Tactical Positioning
• Approaching People and Vehicles
• Personal Protection Skills
• Edged Weapons Awareness
• Searching of Individuals

3.1.4. Designated Detention Officers (DDO):

• National Decision Model
• Tactical Communication
• Medical Implications
• Use of Force Reporting
• Tactical Positioning
• Approaching People
• Personal Protection Skills
• Edged Weapons Awareness
• Physical Restraints
• Mechanical Restraints/Limb Restraints
• Searching of Individuals

3.2 Further training requirements

3.2.1 Once trained, staff are required to carry the protective equipment specified for their role at all times when they are exposed to the risk of assault (this includes whilst in custody areas or in contact with prisoners, see policy Q01).

3.2.2 The PPST Refresher programme for police officers, Special Constabulary and police staff requires that officers and staff are trained to the correct standards. Refresher training will take place annually at intervals not to exceed 12 months.

3.2.3 The refresher programme consists of elements of the initial training modules and is delivered at the following levels and group categories:

3.2.4 The refresher programme consists of elements of the initial training modules and is delivered at the following levels and group categories:

Police staff

Groups	Contact time
Public-facing PSE roles where PST is identified as required for the role	6 hours
Police community support officers (PCSOs)	6 hours
Designated detention officers	9 hours

Police officers and Special Constabulary

Groups	Contact time
Non-uniformed officers (to and including the rank of chief superintendent)	12 hours
Uniformed officers (to and including the rank of chief superintendent)	12 hours
Officers placed on limited duties	6 hours

3.3 Fitness Testing

3.3.1 Prior to attendance all police officers and members of the special constabulary must ensure the occupational health fitness questionnaire has been completed/ submitted to occupational health in time for them to be screened for their up and coming PPST refresher training (see SOP O43l).

3.4 Extension to PPST authority

3.4.1 All staff in the listed groups who exceed the 12-month period without undergoing refresher training should not be regarded as “PPST authorised” until refresher training has been achieved.

3.4.2 Officers and staff who require an extension of authority may have their Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST) authorisation extended for a period not to exceed 90 days. The extension can only be approved on completion of an Application for Extension to PPST authority.

3.5 Limited duties requirements

3.5.1 Officers and staff on limited duties who are medically assessed as being unfit to take the mandatory annual fitness test will receive mandatory annual conflict management and first aid training on an annual basis which is aligned to the COP PST guidance for police staff in public facing roles.

3.6 Exemptions

3.6.1 Any member of staff who, due to a medical condition, is unable to undertake or implement the instructions and/or training required (including refresher training) will be referred to the Occupational Health Unit. The referral will be made by their supervisor/line manager. In the case of pregnancy, a supervisor must be informed at the earliest opportunity.

3.6.2 Officers and staff will be exempt from attending the training by exception on the proviso of guidance from Occupational Health that the training would not be suitable.

3.6.3 Officers and staff will be expected to complete full PPST at the earliest opportunity if their limited duties status is removed.

3.7 Training Records

3.7.1 Copies of all initial training attendance, assessment and certification records will be held by the Staff Safety Training Unit (SSTU) and recorded on the SAP system.

3.7.2 The SSTU will collect monthly data indicating how many officers and staff have been trained under the Staff Safety policy. This data will be provided to the Head of Human Resources, Division Commanders and Heads of Department, allowing them to gauge the level of attendance and make appropriate interventions.

4. Equality Impact Assessment

4.1. An equality impact assessment has been carried out and shows the proposals have a medium potential for differential/adverse impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.

5. Risk Assessment

5.1. This SOP has been assessed as medium risk.

6. Consultation

• Staff Safety Training Unit
• Professional Standards
• Legal Services
• Human Resources
• IT Security
• Estates
• Health and Safety
• Equality and Diversity
• Legal
• Freedom of Information
• Unison
• Police Federation

7. Monitoring and Review

7.1. The SOP will be monitored and reviewed by the Staff Safety Training Unit to ensure accuracy is maintained in relation to College of Policing Personal Safety Training Guidance. This SOP will be reviewed every two years with the next review scheduled for April 2026.

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

9. Retention and Disposal of Records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).