Policy P10 - Major Investigation and Public Protection

The Authorised Professional Practice (APP) has been approved by the College of Policing as the official and most up-to-date source of professional practice on policing. South Yorkshire Police have adopted APP as their Statement of Agreed Policy. This is the agreed policy on Major Investigation and Public Protection and you may wish to refer to the APP section now

Exceptions

South Yorkshire Police will seek to operate within agreed National APP guidance unless exceptional circumstances exist.

Any decision to operate outside this guidance will need to be justified in line with the National Decision Making Model.

Additions

In addition to APP, South Yorkshire Police’s statement of agreed policy on Major Investigation and Protecting Vulnerable People includes the following.

Major Investigation and Public Protection

The strategic aim of major investigation and Protecting Vulnerable People policy is to deliver the highest standards of service to the public. This policy applies to all levels of criminal investigation.

The Force will seek to treat victims, witnesses and offenders in a fair, transparent and ethical manner in order to prevent and detect crime, protect the public and bring offenders to justice.

The care of victims is our priority and our aim is to deliver a consistently high standard of support on every occasion.  

South Yorkshire Police are committed to continuous professional improvement and organisational learning within the investigative function to reassure and build public confidence.

South Yorkshire Police will work with partners and professional bodies and will share information to ensure the best outcomes.

South Yorkshire Police are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of society from criminals who exploit them, specifically hate crime, child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, honour based abuse, modern slavery and human trafficking.  

South Yorkshire Police will ensure investigators working within the functions of major crime and public protection receive specialist training in line with the Professionalising in Policing programme and appropriate support for those in training.

We will utilise technology where appropriate to improve our efficiency and effectiveness to support professional investigation of Major Crime.

All staff working within investigation functions will conduct themselves and deliver in line with the Code of Ethics with particular emphasis on our values of Integrity, Openness, Fairness, Respect, Honesty, Courage and Teamwork. 

Workplace Domestic Abuse – Police Officers and Police Staff

South Yorkshire Police has a responsibility to provide all staff with a safe and effective working environment. For some staff, the workplace is a safe haven and the only place that offers routes to support and safety.

South Yorkshire Police acknowledges that domestic abuse is a significant problem which has a devastating impact on victims and their families. This procedure represents a commitment to take all reasonable steps possible to combat the reality and impact of domestic abuse on those being abused and to challenge the behaviour of perpetrators.

This procedure ensures that both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse are aware of the support that is available within the organisation. It also provides guidance to line managers when supporting staff who are affected by domestic abuse.

It is important to note however that domestic abuse is not condoned under any circumstance and all staff must adhere to the standards of professional behaviour.

Legal Framework

This overarching policy is also in accordance with current legislation, APP guidance and subject of continuous review. A number of National guidance documents also underpins these policies;

• Murder Investigation Manual 2021
• Major Incident Room Standard Administrative Procedures (MIRSAP) 2021
• National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS)
• Core Investigative Doctrine 2012
• Child Rescue Alert – Practitioners Manual of Guidance 2013 (Access through CoP Platform login)
• NPCC Honour Based Abuse, Forced Marriage and FGM
• Service Level Agreement between CEOP and ACPO
• UK Border Agency Code of Practice For Keeping Children Safe From Harm 2008
• Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons (2010) and Interim Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons (2013).
• Guidance on Investigating and Prosecuting Rape 2010
• Guidance on Investigating Child Abuse and Safeguarding Children 2005
• Guidance on Investigating Serious Sexual Offences 2005
• Practice Advice on Investigating Stalking Harassment 2009
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

See also:

• Pi9.20 - Vulnerable and Intimidated Victims and Witnesses 
• Pi10.15 - Investigation of Modern Slavery Human Trafficking

Associated Procedural Instructions not owned by SCS:

The associated procedural instructions below are included within the Major Investigation and Public Protection policy due to the inclusion of these sections within APP.

Responsibility for ownership, management and review of these instructions is the Superintendent of the respective departments and includes the following procedural instructions:

Licensing and Records

This policy covers any members of South Yorkshire Police who have cause to be involved in any matter of a licensing nature and to ensure that it is, dealt with properly and effectively in complying with any legislation governing matter.

• Pi10.1 – Explosive Storage/Control
• Pi10.2 – Circulation of Lost and Stolen Section 1 Firearms and Section 2 Shotguns
• Pi10.3 – Surrender/Seizure/Disposal/Destruction of Firearms
• Pi10.4 – Application to Become a Firearms Dealer
• Pi10.5 – Firearms and Certificates Instructions and Access to Information
• Pi10.6 – Rifle and Muzzle Loading Pistol Clubs

 

Child Protection

This policy covers police officers, police staff and volunteers who are working in partnership to deliver activities for children and young people.

South Yorkshire Police are committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for children and young people by:

• Recognising that anyone under the age of 18 is entitled to the protection afforded by this policy and its accompanying procedural instructions.
• Acknowledging that the welfare of children and young people is paramount.
• Recognising that all children and young people whatever their age, disability, ethnicity, faith and religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, colour, nationality, first language, politics or social position have the right to protection from abuse.
• Monitoring the participation of children and young people with disabilities to ensure compliance with the South Yorkshire Police Equality, Diversion and Inclusion Strategy.
• Ensuring that all volunteers are carefully vetted and understand their responsibility for safeguarding children and young people in their care.
• Responding swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse and providing parents, children and young people with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have. Any suspicions or allegations must not be ignored.
• Ensure sensitive information is managed appropriately.
• Reviewing the effectiveness of our Child Protection Policy and activities annually.

The Management Team in the Community Safety Department will actively manage the application of this policy and act as the main point of contact for SYP employees, parents, children and young people and outside agencies.

Pi10.38 - Children & Young People Engagement Safeguarding

​Equality Act 2010

The Act creates a statutory requirement for all Functions and Policies (Including Procedural Instructions) to be analysed for their effect on equality, diversity and human rights, with due regard to the General Equality Duty.

In principle, this document has been assessed for discrimination, which cannot be justified, among other diverse groups.

The Code of Ethics published in 2014 and revised in 2024 by the College of Policing requires us all to do the right thing in the right way. 

The 2024 Code of Ethics is not a statutory Code of Practice, it has the same status as other guidance produced by the College. The Code of Ethics is supported by the Code of Practice for Ethical Policing. This is a statutory Code of Practice which provides chief officers with direction on promoting and supporting ethical and professional behaviour within their forces.

Human Rights/Discretion

The purpose of providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course of action.  However it is not possible to cater for every possible combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy.  The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate circumstances.

Where action is taken that has the potential to interfere with an individual's Human Rights, the reasons behind the making of the decision to act in that way should be recorded on the appropriate forms, or where this is not practicable, in pocket books or policy logs.

​Rights of redress for members of the public:

Anyone who feels that a member of staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly, or who is dissatisfied with organisational matters, service delivery or other operational policing issues, has the right to make a complaint.

Initial action should be taken in one of the following ways:

• Complain in writing or in person to the Senior Officer at the appropriate police station or to the Chief Constable of the force concerned.
• Visit a local Citizens' Advice Bureau
• Contact a Solicitor

Rights of redress for South Yorkshire Police personnel:

South Yorkshire Police personnel who feel they have grounds for concern in relation to the implementation of policies may, as appropriate:

• Pursue concerns through their line manager.
• Contact a First Contact Advisor.
• Pursue a grievance formally through the South Yorkshire Police Grievance Resolution Procedure.
• Seek advice from their staff association or trades union.

Use procedural instruction Pi23.11 - Management of Complaints, in the section entitled Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control.

Start Date: 12/10/2017

Review:

This statement of agreed policy is managed by Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of Crime Services..

The date for the next review of this policy and Equality Analysis is: 04/05/2024