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the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
He said: “The new statutory guidance
does offer some wriggle room and is much
better now than it was in its original form
when it first came out in 2014. But the APP
has been tested in court and if you stick to it,
you can’t go wrong.”
Mr Chesterman also tackled issues
around the separation of officers – this makes
people who have just been through a
life-changing incident feel like suspects rather
than witnesses he said – and discussed the
issue of anonymity in today’s world of BWV.
The seminar also heard from the
Federation’s national custody forum chair,
Chris Bentley, who said PIP was not always
easy to accommodate in the custody arena.
“At 3am where are you going to find three
A demonstration on restraint. custody sergeants and seven jailers needed
for the 39 other detainees being held that
scenario. It is hoped it could eventually be thing was that we were given time, there was night?” he asked.
rolled out nationwide to help diagnose a no pressure put on us. We had great support Chris called for better PIP training for
medical condition called Acute Behavioural from the Federation and occupational health. non-police custody staff such as detention
Disturbance (ABD) by monitoring heart rates In fact, if I hadn’t had the support of officers and custody nurses.
and oxygen saturation levels of detainees. occupational health, I don’t know if I would In closing, it was noted that the benefits
Staffordshire Police response officers Tony still be in the job.” of good post-incident procedures can make
Collier and Rob Goodwin were involved in a The investigation carried out by the police all the difference between ‘career death’ or
pursuit which ended in a three-car collision watchdog, the Independent Office for Police keeping the job officers love.
with victims suffering life-changing injuries. Conduct (IOPC), was originally meant to last
With the support of the local Federation, three months but ended up taking 10
sympathetic bosses and occupational health, because a member of the public - who was OUR R EP SAY S :
they were guided through the investigation not even present at the scene of the accident
procedures after a malfunctioning ‘black box’ - claimed officers were driving in an illegal
system – Spirit - showed their car speeding at manner. I found the seminar very informative
100 mph. and useful, I believe that any PIP
The drama began after the officers had involving our members needs to be
pulled over a suspicious vehicle. PC Goodwin fully explained to all involved.
was speaking to the male driver and had I thought this seminar had more
attempted to whip the car keys out of the involvement for those attending and
car’s ignition when the driver suddenly shot demonstrations turned out to be
off leaving the officer clinging on for dear life. very interesting.
The officers immediately chased after the We were shown how in the near
offender, who had a warrant for immediate future when officers make an arrest
recall to prison, but after several miles doing the PIC will be fitted with a Fit-bit
only moderate speeds, the errant driver style bracelet which could help
crashed into two cars, seriously injuring three prevent custody deaths.
other people. One of the guest speakers was
PC Goodwin said: “Over a 15-year career, it solicitor Kevin Donoghue, who
was probably the worst day of my policing specialises in civil actions against
career – and as it transpired, probably the DCC Simon Chesterman. the police. One of his observations
very best.” BWV was crucial in calibrating the actual was that very often police officers
With the casualties cut out of the cars speed of the officers’ car, vital because the get involved in incidents that
and the air ambulance having left the scene, on-board Spirit computer gave false readings. perhaps other agencies should be
the officers and three other colleagues were As a result of the investigation, Spirit was taking the lead on.
ferried to Staffordshire Police HQ where the eventually removed from all Staffordshire Another speaker on that panel
PIP process was started. vehicles. “Body-worn cameras will save you,” was Dr Meng Aw-Yong, a forensic
PC Collier said: “Unlike Rob, I had not had said PC Goodwin. medical examiner and president of
had any previous PIP awareness training so I But also key to both PCs was the support the British Academy of Forensic
felt like the pressure was ramping up all the they received throughout, emerging Science. Without the PFEW putting
time because I had no idea what to expect.” afterwards with renewed vigour for the job. on these seminars, the possibilities
But he felt grateful to post-incident PC Collier said: “The whole process ultimately of meeting and listening to such
manager (PIM) Pete Owen, ‘the most turned five cynical officers into massive fans speakers would be slim.
important man in the room’ because, he said: and supporters of Staffordshire Police and the Whenever I attend these events,
“There was a very calm approach, no bullying way that they do their business.” I always come away thinking how
or finger pointing – these are the people Delegates also heard from national little training officers receive in PIP
looking after you. I was quite glad there was firearms lead DCC Simon Chesterman who and if they were trained how much
no separation and although I was very urged officers to follow Authorised easier it would make the procedure
worried, I could feel that wraparound Professional Practice (APP), saying it was a for them.
support.” better bet and afforded more protection than John Williams, deputy chair of West
PC Goodwin added: “The most important the new draft statutory guidelines issued by Midlands Police Federation

www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2018/January 2019 21