Operational partnerships - Safe driving policy (O45)

1. Summary of changes

1.1. This policy has been reviewed in line with the regular review process in June 2024 - paragraph 4.1 amended. 

2. What this policy is about

2.1. The policy is for police officers and police staff who drive police or privately owned vehicles whilst at work and should be read in conjunction with the associated procedures.

2.2. Kent Police has adopted the College of Policing Police Driving APP as its working policy and this should be followed at all times.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3. Statement of policy

3.1. Kent Police is committed to making the county of Kent a safer place with a clear objective aimed at targeting driver behaviour to provide a safer road network enabling the community to use the roads with confidence, by reducing incidents of death and serious injury.

3.2. This commitment includes a positive obligation to ensure that the police officers and police staff employed by Kent Police set the highest standards of driver behaviour reducing the risks associated with driving vehicles in the course of their employment. All police officers and police staff should work towards the aims of this policy and the associated procedures. There are significant individual and organisational risks associated with the use of vehicles and this policy, associated procedures and risk assessments provide clear guidance and instruction regarding the use of vehicles within the working environment supported by an effective management process to ensure that all police officers and police staff meet their obligations.

3.3. The driving of vehicles is at the forefront of the professional skills which police officers and police staff must ensure are maintained during the course of their duties.

3.4. Kent Police aims to provide a comprehensive training regime in line with the College of Policing Police driving curriculum, with effective supervision to ensure that drivers of vehicles set a good example at all times to both colleagues and members of public, maintaining the high standards of personal responsibility and expectations required by the service.

3.5. Police officers and police staff who drive police vehicles must comply with all road traffic laws.

 3.6. Any action taken by a police officer or police staff concerning their driving behaviour must comply with the obligations of the Human Rights Act 1998, in that all conduct must be legal, proportionate and necessary with regards to the objectives associated with the policing activity in which the police officer or police staff is engaged.

3.7. All police officers and police staff must be aware of and implement Health and Safety at Work Act legislation and practical measures designed to protect and minimise the risk of harm to themselves, colleagues and other road users.

4. Implications of the policy

4.1. Finance/staffing/training/other 

All training requirements associated with the use of vehicles owned by, or used on behalf of Kent Police are overseen by the Chief Driving Instructor or their deputy and are documented within the procedures attached to this policy.

4.2. Risk Assessments

There are considerable risks associated with the use of vehicles within the working environment. Police officers and police staff must dynamically identify and manage the changing risks associated with the nature of the work they are undertaking in line with the national decision model (NDM). As such, drivers will receive appropriate instruction relevant to their driving authority.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessments (EIA)

This procedure has been assessed with regard to an EIA. As a result of this assessment it has been graded as having a low potential impact as the proposals in this procedure 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

• Driver Training
• Transport Services
• Serious Collision Investigation Unit
• Staff Safety Training Unit
• Professional Standards Department
• Human Resources
• Estates
• Finance
• IT Security
• Equality and Diversity
• Legal
• Freedom of Information
• Health and Safety
• Police Federation

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. The NPCC lead for driver training will be ACC Operations. This policy will be monitored by the Head of Driver Training/and or their deputy.

6.2. Quarterly statistics relative to pursuits will be forwarded to the College of Policing (COP) for national recording based on the Home Office Code of Practice for the management of police pursuits 2011. This will be undertaken by the Force Control Room.

6.3. This policy will be reviewed by the head of driver training/and or their deputy to ensure that the training reflects the operational needs of the organisation. The next review is scheduled for June 2024.

7. Other source documents

• APP - Driver training
• COP – Police driving curriculum
• National decision making model

8. Security

10.1. 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

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