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 Operations and you may wish to refer to the APP section now.
Exceptions
South Yorkshire Police do not deviate from APP on this subject
Additions
In addition to APP, South Yorkshire Police’s statement of agreed policy on Civil emergencies includes;
Scope
This policy affects all Police Officers and Staff involved with the planning and policing of operations, public events, football and policing arrangements in connection with Royal or VIP visits.
Aims and Objectives
To ensure uniformity in the approach to Operations. That they are adequately planned to a minimum standard, taking into account risk and threat.
To ensure that all staff involved in the Operation receive a full briefing in relation to both function and safety, and the safety of the public.
To enable lessons learnt to be shared across the force.
Legal Framework
COP - Guidance on Emergency Procedures
HSE – The Event Safety Guide (Purple Guide)
HSE – Managing Crowd Safety in public Venues
Section 11, Public Order Act 1986
The Sports Ground Safety Authority - Green Guide
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.
This statement of agreed policy is managed by Superintendent, Operational Support Unit.
