Recording and documentation of firearms planning meetings and briefings
MPS Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be amended so that: a. Notes and/or audio recordings should be made of all meetings in relation to general strategy where it is envisaged that firearms may or will be deployed during the course of a planned operation, and training given to explain why it is so important – for reasons of accountability and to establish an audit trail. b. Such notes should include the date, location and duration of the meeting, the identity of those present, the capacity in which they are attending, and details of decisions made and actions accepted or rejected. c. All planning meetings should be properly minuted and the minutes thereof should be centrally retained. d. All briefings relating to firearms operations should be audio-recorded unless it is not reasonably practicable on the grounds of sensitivity of information/intelligence to do so, in which case they should be minuted in the same way as planning meetings.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedMPS formally responded on 28 October 2022 (paras 17-20). Internal guidance issued to all SFCs and TFCs on comprehensive minutes for planning meetings. PUoF SOP consistent with APP-AP. Recording of firearms briefings still under review with College of Policing.
Progress Timeline
Status as of College of Policing APP-AP update (August 2023): In Progress