Page 23 - Top Cover Issue 8

TOP COVER ISSUE 8 23

MDP

SENIOR LEADERS’ CONFERENCE

he MDP currently incident in their force area. How would were updated on current issues and more
police (armed and the two or more forces, depending on the importantly what future progress may
unarmed) 37 locations scale of an incident, work together? look like: how rapidly UK policing
throughout the UK, The exercise was followed by is evolving to deal with new threats
together with a small guest speakers who related their own and challenges.
presence at a number experience, analysis and advice. Supt. One of the principal officers involved
of other Defence sites. Brian Dillon from the Metropolitan in the shooting of Mark Duggan in
TThe core policing units Police Service described the events and Tottenham in 2011 (known to delegates
range from Devonport Naval Base in the response by his force to the murder only as V53) gave his account of that
Plymouth to the most northerly station of Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich event, and the impact on his own
in Scotland, HMS Vulcan. The MDP has Barracks in 2013. private life and career during an
some 2100 Authorised Firearms Officers Mr Chris Lovatt, Deputy Senior emotive presentation.
providing armed capability at many of Investigator at the Independent Police Superintendent Kevin McAndrew,
those locations. Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Mr. the Force Firearms Officer for the MDP,
The PIP exercise began with a pre- John Mitchell, Director of Investigations said, “Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock
recorded incident on video played to for the Police Investigation and Review gave me the opportunity to promote
delegates who then worked through Commission (PIRC) in Scotland, both post-incident issues, so our conference
several phases to make decisions or provided the investigative perspective was an opportunity to do just that.
comment on the emerging incident from North and South of the border. Feedback from delegates has been very
as it unfolded in successive video Lawyer Scott Ingram from Slater positive and was used to produce an
clips. Operational issues, media and Gordon Solicitors talked through improvement plan. The success of the
handling, officer welfare, post incident past incidents and analysed recent event was greatly enhanced by superb
management and protocols were all cases. Scott gave the audience an guest speakers who engaged everyone on
elements of the incident. informative assessment of what officers the day. V53 rounded off the event with
The MDP invited several Home and organisations can expect following a principal officer’s perspective which was
Office forces who attended to provide incidents where police are involved in so important to bring home the impact
their perspective. As a national force, death or serious injury incidents. on everyone involved and how important
MDP wanted to tease out and share the DCC Simon Chesterman, National it is to get this right. We have learned
learning from a better understanding Armed Policing Lead, gave the national as a national force what we can do and
of the likely impact on a Home Office perspective, drawing on points and issues where we need to work more closely with
force if MDP officers were involved in an raised by the previous speakers. Delegates partner forces.” ■