NCJ Number
208520
Date Published
2004
Length
42 pages
Annotation
These guidelines provide strategic direction for Australian police jurisdiction in the area of operational safety, which encompasses incident management, conflict resolution, and the use of force.
Abstract
In addressing these features of operational safety, this report presents 32 guidelines in 3 broad domains. The first domain pertains to general philosophies that guide police organizations in the design and implementation of operational safety. The guidelines in this section focus on the principle of the use of minimum force, the need for continuous improvement, the increasing importance of cross-jurisdictional cooperation, the issue of vicarious liability, and methods for improving officers' understanding of the key concepts in this area. The second domain presents guidelines that relate to incident management. This includes a discussion of the incident management process, the importance of a model that outlines the range of tactical options, the evaluation of incident management, and the development of strategic partnerships. The third domain involves guidelines that enhance the development and conduct of operational-safety training. Guidelines in this domain address the following issues: translating policy into practice, safety as a priority, the need for integrated training that includes realistic scenarios, the requirement for ongoing training and assessment, the importance of documentation, and the role of operational safety instructors. These guidelines are intended to provide the strategic direction for operational safety in all Australian police agencies while allowing scope for each agency to set priorities in relation to each guideline. Appendixes present the workshop agenda in which the core of the guidelines was developed, an example of the general structure of a situational tactical options model, and the National Use of Force Reporting Guidelines of 2002.