police emergency incidents
P1: Police four different categories broke down;
The role of a call handler is the responsibility to access the situation in which has been reported and decide on what grade the incident should be, and therefore the incident then would be graded and action would be taking place. The call handler would response as in sending services out and therefore giving the relevant information to the service. the handlers also need to ensure that the correct response times are met by each unit and therefore directing the services upon the incidents. when receiving the calls they need to maintain contact with the incident call handlers, which monitors the progress of whats happens until the services have arrived and to ensure the staff which are approaching are safe.
The call handlers have responsibility to give the callers:
- relevant details and information
- dispatch the service units, correct units
- request about the incident- whats the involvement?
- reassurance
Finally, the call handlers need communication as the key role, as they need to ensure all information is passed across the services. the communications would be passed through; telephone, radio, and computer systems. They need to be alert at all times for any communication coming through the systems.
this is when a call has been made to the emergency services and the call handler believes that the incident is likely to be either;
- a threat towards/ of violence
- a serious amount of damage to a property
- a serious injury to an individual
- the danger of life
A prime example of a grade 1 incident would be;
there's a offender which creating a disturbance in a area and causing a scene which may harm others and if there's a serious crime which is happening with weapons etc,.
Grade 1 incidents and the public services with vehicles responding to the incident will use there blue lights and sirens, therefore leading them to not knowledge the speed limits and red lights but to be aware of the surroundings. The response time in which the police have would be to act in or under 20 minutes.
grade 2; priority response
This is when there is a certain degree of importance or urgency, but the emergency response may not be required. This would happen for example when a offender has been detained, a serious road obstruction in a traffic collision and a serious injury may be at risk.
This grade has the response time of within 2 hours.
Grade 3; scheduled response.
The emergency services aren't required immediately. the example of this would the police being required for a orientated incident and therefore the police are required at the hospital. The response time in which this grade has is up-to 48 hours
Grade 4; resolution without deployment.
This is when the call handler is able to resolve the incident over the phone and is done by different ways;
- written advice
- phone call
- answering callers questions
- recommend a more appropriate service
within this grade 4, the response within a police officer is not required but sometimes a incident may require a police officer alongside another agency and therefore would be handed over to the suitable agency;
- safer community team
- child protection agency
- intelligence units
- traffic control team
P2: Importance of responding safely as an emergency response driver
Driving an emergency response vehicle means the drivers have a high responsibility compared to standard road users. however, the response vehicles aren't allowed to drive in a way which allows them to be eligible to be convicted of a numerous driving offences for example; driving in a very dangerous manner and driving without due care and attention and not being aware of whats around them. The driver must be aware of the surroundings of the area which there heading for and therefore think on how to approach the roads if they are busy and to be patient of the other road users to think responsibility of how they are moving their vehicles.
Driving emergency response vehicles exempt the driver from the traffic regulations such as:
- being able to drive along the hard shoulder
- disobey the speed limit- 20 mph over the limit
- drive towards the oncoming traffic (sensible manner)
- red light
- go pass on the right of the keep left bollard
The driver must be sensible at all times when disobeying the rules and ensure everyone in the surroundings are safe, they must not just think they can do what they think is the best to get out of situations.
Emergency vehicles have the use of warning systems such as blue lights and sirens in which they are allowed to use. There are limits in which they are allowed to use the sirens, for example; early hours of the morning they would use the sirens and at night they could use sirens depending if traffic and the type of incident. They wouldn't put their sirens on if they are entering a village at night or early hours, they would use the lights, so citizens are aware.
On a extension from the following information above, drivers must undertake different driving qualifications, which would adjust for each driver and which they are and aren't allowed do; Police Advanced Driving Certificate and Police Standard Response Driving Certificate.