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10 TOP cover aUtUmn 2012

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in the other which is pointed at the only be best described as a ‘hot-debrief’. Command and Deployment of Armed
containment point in the rear yard of the As the Sergeant, he turned to me and said Officers it is totally apparent how much
pub. We offer much yelling of “armed “Well done lad, you didn’t pull the trigger!” we have progressed. I consider myself
Police” etc. – no reaction from the subject I remember looking straight into his eyes very fortunate that I have been invited
whatsoever. I am armed with a Smith and and thinking to myself what would have to be part of various working parties to
Weston revolver and my containment happened to me if I had? There were some examine existing Post Incident procedure
colleague with a shotgun. I am a newly really ancient dungeon cells in that old chapters with a view to improving the
qualified AFO; it is my first operational ‘nick’ and I have a considered belief and Police Service’s understanding of how
firearms incident and I am 30 meters thought that I would have been a resident such procedures might be implemented.
away from the subject and it’s pitch- in one of them! My apologies for telling an ‘old war
black. I decided against a head shot (the story’ but it goes some way to explain my
only picture I had in my foresight) and deep set desire to provide Officers post-
continued to bellow out “armed police”. incident with an appropriate and open
Fortunately and unknown to us at that process that is both accountable and does
time, the shotgun held by the subject …my deep set what it says on the tin.
was jammed and not capable of being
discharged. The subject, out of our view, desire to provide the POSt inCident
moved forward and surrendered himself mAnAgement teAm
to the other containment officers and our Officers post- The PIM team: yes a dedicated ‘team’ of
uniform colleague was released. As an officers. That comes as a bit of a surprise
aside the TFC Superintendent at the time incident with an to many students on a PIM course. Many
and a local Chief Inspector had got just a have a misguided thought that they can
little too close to the containment point in appropriate and achieve this on their own. I like to think
the rear yard of the ‘nick’. When the man that I am pretty experienced in the PIM
moved forward to their location there was open process role, but I would never approach such a
much comical backward shuffling of said huge task on my own. I have benefited
senior officers towards the rear entrance to that is both from and been able to offer better support
the ‘nick’. Serves them right for getting to by having some trusted and good people
close, I hear you all mutter! around me.
I make light of what was a very accountable and I subscribe to a team of at least four to
harrowing experience for the officer who five people and ‘rank’ does not enter into
was taken hostage that day, a person I knew does what it says the equation. I used to have a thought that
quite well and who remained incredibly the lead PIMs should be of at least Chief
calm throughout his ordeal. More by luck on the tin. Inspector or Superintendent rank as they
than good judgment, no one was injured. are likely to come face to face with, and let
However the result could have been so us be honest sometimes, conflict situations
much different and the pressure of making with senior management at ACPO level. I
a decision as whether to shoot or not shoot now realise and fully accept that there are
in an operational experience remains with If I recall correctly the Manual of many people in our organisations who can
me to this day. That experience has helped Guidance at that time, specifically around account for themselves and others without
me understand how Officers may react Post Incident Procedures, was still in its the need for a lot of shiny emblems on
when they come back to the PIM suite. infancy. I believe it was Chapter 14, all of their shoulders.
More to the point and the reason for four pages long, had a paragraph within Number one and two should be the
that long drawn out story: how do you it which highlighted considerations for primary and secondary PIMs. The primary
think we were dealt with following that sending officers involved in such incidents PIM is the leader and decision maker for
incident? No post incident management away on a holiday! Oh how things have the team and the secondary PIM having
procedure as we would know it, but the changed and for the better. If we were to the vital responsibility of being the ‘log
then Chief Constable himself turning up view the now very detailed Chapter 7 of the keeper’ of the process. They should both
to the location and conducting what can Manual of Guidance on the Management, be trained and accredited in the role.