Page 25 - Top Cover Issue 8

TOP COVER ISSUE 8 25

POST INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

PFOA TRAINING LIMITED

The company has been officially in business now
since May 2014 and I have to say has consumed my
working days resulting in 2014 seemingly to disappear
in double quick time.

WRITTEN BY STEVE HOWSON

hen the College of Policing application. Getting that contract / licence was not an easy ‘tick
advertised for PIM Training in the box’ process but a comprehensive one that certainly made
to be delivered by outside us think deeply, tested our quality and ability to deliver such a
agencies no less than seven product. It certainly helped that the PFOA had a unique working
companies / organisations relationship with other outside agencies / firms / businesses
applied to deliver this very which could only enhance that overall capability. Those working
important part of police relationships have developed enormously with the Police Federation
training. The PFOA Charity, of England and Wales recognising that we can deliver first class Post
W which set up PFOA Training Incident training to Federation Representatives. This has resulted
Limited as a subsidiary, was very pleased to win the contract. This in the delivery of a number of Post Incident Procedure courses in
‘contract’ or ‘licence’ was for an initial year that started in 2014 and no less than five are set for 2015. I have been
the summer of 2014. It authorised PFOA Training very impressed by the commitment and interest shown
to provide full Post Incident Manager and by the Fed Reps coming onto the courses. I have
PIM Re-accreditation training in accordance seen ‘old sweats’ and ‘newbies’ coming through. I
with Module C4 of the Firearms Training know that the Police Federation of England and
Curriculum and that agreed by the College Wales has taken some harsh criticism over the
of Policing PIM working group. The licence last year or so. I think many would agree that
also supports one day and seminar training some of this criticism was justified, some not.
to any Force or organisation requiring such If the Feds Reps I have seen come through the
training
a service. POLICE FIREARMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION course reflect the standard of Fed Reps across
There will always be a degree of suspicion the Country, then the Federation is in a good
and questions from those within the police position for the future.
service as to why an ‘outside body’ would be PFOA Training Limited has also been invited
allowed or encouraged to do this. All I would say to deliver PIP training for Unison and other non-
is that the PFOA Training course directors, deliverers, Federation staff associations (ie. the National Crime
consultants and supporters are no strangers to the world of Post Officers Association). I must praise the foresight of Debi Potter
Incident Procedures. In fact that is completely the contrary and was (Unison, Dorset). Debi has recognised the vulnerability of many
a major factor in PFOA Training Limited winning the contract. I Police Staff colleagues across the UK who may be involved in DSI
am the main deliverer and I have been an operational PIM since cases and will depend on Unison Reps to support them through
1999 and delivering the training since 2001. I have recognised the the rigour of an independent investigation. As a result of an
need to have current PIMs from around the country to support initial course held in Bournemouth in early 2014 a flourishing
and help deliver that training to enable the theory to be ‘brought relationship is developing fast. With Unison’s commitment,
alive’. Four full PIM Courses and two Re-accreditation courses support and enthusiasm we are training their representatives to a
have been delivered so far and the feedback has been very positive high standard of knowledge and ability. At last many Forces are
and encouraging. identifying the need to invoke Post Incident Procedures for non-
The College of Policing has been very supportive to our PIM firearms death in contact cases.
training delivery but professional and unbiased in its PIM deliverer I must praise, yet again, the initiative of West Yorkshire Federation