Pursuit Tactical Advisor: Handout

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Basic Driver

Requirements

Hold a valid driver's licence.

Entitlements

Drive basic police vehicles;
Conduct compliant traffic stops.

Standard Driver

Requirements

Complete level 3 training;
Hold the rank of PC or above.

Entitlements

All of the above;
Drive from A-to-B using emergency lights and sirens along with associated legal exemptions;
Conduct initial pursuit phase;
Conduct and take part in re-enforced traffic stops.

Advanced Driver

Requirements

Competed an advanced driving course.

Entitlements

All of the above;
Drive advanced police vehicles (motorcycle and advanced driver car - soonTM);
Conduct tactical phase pursuits;
Enact TPAC when authorised to do so;
Enact Tactical Contact when authorised to do so.

1. Pursuit Roles & Recap

Primary Unit: A police vehicle directly behind the subject providing commentary.

Pursuit Tactical Advisor (TA or TACAD): An officer trained to recommend or authorise pursuit tactics. Does not have to be directly involved in the pursuit.

Pursuit Commander: A level 1 or 2 trained driver taking control of tactics employment in the tactical phase. Ideally a passenger.

Initial Pursuit Phase (IPP)

Vehicle fails to stop and a pursuit is broadcast.
No tactics in place. Pursue only.
Unit to request additional resources (i.e. advanced/TPAC drivers, NPAS, DSU).

Tactical Phase

Tactical phase drivers (level 1 and level 2) takeover primary.
TACAD sought and tactics authorised.
Pursuit Commander identified and controls the use of tactics.

Pursuit Priority: NPAS > Traffic > Advanced Driver (when in Komoda) > Firearms (unless Firearm involved) > Response

Who can enact TPAC or TC tactics? Traffic Officers (level 1), Firearms Officers (level 1), Response Advanced Drivers (level 2).

What is a suitable vehicle for a pursuit?

Marked police vehicle with blue lights & sirens.
Police motorcycle.
Unmarked (IPP only unless level 1/2 driver).

What is an unsuitable vehicle for a pursuit?

Personnel carriers (vans).
Personal vehicles without blue lights & sirens.

Who can stand down a pursuit?

Anyone involved in the pursuit.

What must be included in an incident report?

The name/collar number of TACAD.
The name/collar number of Pursuit Commander.

We've lost sight of the vehicle. Do tactics remain?

Temporary loss: Units conduct area searches to locate. Any authorised tactics remain.
Total loss: Units stand down, resuming patrol or generate warrant. Authorities rescinded. Further sightings must be re-authorised.

Legal Requirements

When authorising or enacting tactics, it must be:
Proportionate
Legal
Accountable
Necessary
You are liable for your authorisation, or use of tactics. Any wrongdoing can be presented criminally to the courts, or disciplinary proceedings through LSPS.
TACAD's are not responsible for tactics performed dangerously, such as tactical contact. The responsibility lies on the officer(s) conducting it.

2. What is a Tactical Advisor?

Who can be a tactical advisor?

All Sergeants+.
Traffic Officers with 30 days experience.

Responsibilities

Does not have to be directly involved in the pursuit.
By questioning those involved, or listening to commentary, MUST make following considerations:
- - Does the risk of pursuing outweigh the gravity of the offence committed?
  - Is the subject driving too dangerously?
  - Type of vehicle being pursued.
  - Any immediate firearms risk?
  - Is traffic density too high?````````
  - Is pedestrian density too high?
  - What TPAC/TC trained units are available?
  - Is the identity of the driver known? If not, do we have a VRM?
Shouldn't authorise aggressive tactics (TPAC or TC) until the pursuit becomes protracted and is proportionate. Refer to above considerations.

Server Balancing

Your first priority should be to encourage tactics that don't necessarily require your authority, such as setting up stinger sites.
For enjoyability of all, we must balance the use of aggressive tactics. Particularly with authorising tactical contact.
It can be more enjoyable for all by not authorising TC, allowing a 'cat-and-mouse' chase for potentially hours.

Communication

You must be specific in your wording when authorising tactics.
Correct Example (Car): "OT6-1 ... tactical contact authorised at 19:50 ... maximum speeds of 50mph ... by suitably trained units"
Correct Example (Bike): "OT3-1 ... tactical contact authorised at 09:23 ... maximum speeds of 40mph ... by Venice units only"
Incorrect: "OT6-3 ... tactical contact authorised"

3. What is a Pursuit Commander?

The Pursuit Commander is a level 1 or 2 trained driver that controls the use of tactics that a TACAD has authorised. While units are pursuing and commentating, the Pursuit Commander will be thinking ahead for methods to safely conclude the pursuit. They should delegate roles to appropriate units to maximise the effectiveness of tactics deployment, such as for TPAC or having someone setup stingers at likely locations.

Who can be a pursuit commander?

Level 1 or 2 trained drivers.
Can change dynamically as the pursuit develops.
Ideally the passenger of a vehicle, so the driver can concentrate.

Responsibilities

Controls the pursuit & deployment of tactics that TACAD has authorised.
Must be involved in the pursuit, one of the vehicles behind the subject.
Should be in eyesight of the subject vehicle. Preference is to be the primary vehicle.
Delegate tasks to officers involved in the pursuit to safely conclude the pursuit. I.e. who takes what position in TPAC, or having specific units break off to setup stinger sights.
Control a safe number of units directly pursuing. Should be no more than 5 units pursuing. Stand down those not needed.

YOUR CONSIDERATIONS

Risk of pursuing outweighs gravity of offence

Why was an attempt to stop made initially? Is it proportionate to pursue someone who is trying to get away in a highly populated area for stealing a fruit smoothie?

Subject driving too dangerously

Is the subject vehicle driving too erratic, placing themselves, officers and the public in excess danger? Links with if the risk of continuing the pursuit outweighs the gravity of the offence(s) committed.

Type of vehicle being pursued

TC and TPAC is not suitable for heavy vehicles, such as HGV's or tractors. Instead, consider stinger sites. Careful consideration must be given against motorcycles. See Tactics Directory for more info.

High firearms risk but no firearms officers

Is there an immediate firearms threat from the subject? Are there firearms officers present or towards to help mitigate any threat?

Traffic density too high

High traffic density increases the likelihood of the subject or police having a collision. This will also prevent safe tactical contact or TPAC.

Pedestrian density too high

This should speak for itself. If police or the subject lose control of their vehicle there's a risk to life.

What TPAC/TC trained units are available

There's no point in providing tactics if you only have level 3 drivers who are unable to perform them.

Is the identity of the driver known

If we cannot safely pursue, do we know who the driver is? If we have evidence we can stand down the pursuit and issue a warrant, or submit intel to the Road Crime Team to progress.

Do we have a VRM but no driver known

If we cannot safely pursue, and don't know the driver, do we have a VRM? If we evidence the vehicle being used in crime, issue a warrant to interview the owner under S.172 RTA. Click here for further guidance.

TACTICS DIRECTORY

Click the image to view content.

Tactical Contact (TC) is the use of police vehicle to immobilise the subject whilst moving, i.e. the PIT manoeuvre, or when static to prevent movement.

TACAD authorisation required.

Pros

Can immobilise the subject vehicle, even when moving.
Successful contact can allow units to box the subject vehicle.
If proportionate, can be used against motorcycles. Consider Venice units.

Cons

Unsafe against heavy vehicles.
Unsafe at high speeds.
High risk against motorcyclists. Particularly those without a helmet.
Has a danger of causing injury to subject, officers, or the public.
Controversial tactic if misused. Careful consideration MUST be given.

Best Practice

TC can have serious OOC implications if used incorrectly. Consider all options and circumstances before authorising to minimise admin intervention.
Ensure the pursuit has first ran for a reasonable amount of time.
Ascertain reason for pursuit. Consider if TC is proportionate.
Broadcast your rationale to authorising TC. Clearly define speed limit for TC to be enacted. This prompts officers to not get carried away at high speeds.
Broadcast tactic is authorised for those suitably trained, i.e. level 1 and 2 drivers.
Contact generally should not be made against cars over 70mph.
Contact generally should not be made against motorcycles over 40mph. Consider TC for Venice units only, who specially train in motorcycle contact.

Tactical Pursuit And Containment (TPAC) embodies several methods of stopping subject vehicles. This can include boxing the subject whilst moving, including the use of rolling roadblocks and stingers.

TACAD authorisation required.

Pros

Police control vehicles movement, boxing subject between them.
If performed correctly, can bring pursuit safely an end.

Cons

Can be resource intensive. Minimum of 3 trained units.
Unsafe to conduct on heavy vehicles and motorcycles.
Desync becomes a problem when in close proximity.
Subject can easily ram into officers.

Best Practice

4 vehicles to surround the subject. Reduced to 3 if a hard barrier is present.
Best to have the subject vehicle stung (tyres deflated) before boxing.
Safety car should be used where available to slow/stop approaching traffic.
If a unit is ahead, perform a rolling road to slow/stop traffic. This can cause the subject vehicle to get trapped to safely box.

Hard stops are a method of pre-emptively boxing in a stationary or slow moving vehicle Similar in practice to a TPAC, and allows officers to challenge a suspect from cover, usually at gunpoint.

No authorisation required.

Pros

Prevents pursuit developing by boxing vehicle.
Offensive position for officers to challenge from cover.
Creates sterile working environment.

Cons

Requires vehicle to be slow moving or static.
Limited officers trained to perform (RPU and Firearms).
Only suitable for single carriageway roads.

Best Practice

Subject to be monitored pending suitable units.
Relies on the element of surprise.
Only 1 chance to get right - once units briefed and in position, strike.

Operation Venice units are booked on under the Scorpion (SCPN) or Spider (SPDR) callsigns. These will be either marked or unmarked units specifically targeting motorcycle crime. They've completed additional training in use of force, and tactical contact against motorcycles.

No authorisation required (unless TC required).

Pros

Suitably trained to perform tactical contact on motorcycles.
Reduce likelihood of losing a motorcycle failing to stop.
Always deploy as a team. Can immediately offer 2 or more level 1 drivers to the pursuit.

Cons

A risk of injury to the police motorcyclists pursuing.
Can be difficult to see in high speed pursuits.

Best Practice

Best requested for motorcycles failing to stop, or cars driving off road.
Subject to be monitored pending suitable units, make no attempt to stop.
Venice unit take pursuit primary & pursuit commander to coordinate tactics.

NPAS (National Police Air Service) or the police helicopter is one of the most valuable assets in a pursuit. Allowing police drivers to focus more on driving rather than commentary.

No authorisation required.

Pros

Fantastic tool for intelligence gathering.
FLIR capability if there are runners.
Can keep up with most pursuits and take commentary.

Cons

Can struggle to follow in Los Santos city centre/underground.
If too low the offender can easily see/hear NPAS and realise they're being tracked.

Best Practice

Anticipate a fail to stop? NPAS can monitor so units can pre-emptively box or sting the vehicle.
Have units break off pursuit to prioritise stinger sites when NPAS is following.

Stinger or spike strips are a fantastic asset that can be used pre-emptively to prevent a pursuit, or bring a pursuit to a safe conclusion.

No authorisation required.

Pros

Preferred tactic to prevent an anticipated pursuit.
Opens tactical options, such as boxing the vehicle.
Subject's control and speed massively reduced.

Cons

Risk to officer if not in hard cover/concealed from view.
Can be difficult to get ahead and setup.
Potential to sting the wrong vehicle.

Best Practice

Motorcycle units best to break off and get ahead.
Identify someone trained to setup a stinger site in a likely locations: Pillbox, LS Freeway, Great Ocean etc.
If pre-emptive stinger proportionate, can prevent a pursuit from developing.

Unmarked vehicles are best suited for low observable policing, and can be utilised to employ "shock" tactics such as a hard stop. Un

No authorisation required.

Pros

Can monitor subject without alerting them, whilst updating marked units.
Intelligence gathering tool.

Cons

During pursuits, not as visible for other joining units or the public.

Best Practice

Unmarked vehicle shouldn't be primary unless no other equal or higher driver levels to take over.
Use to monitor and report subject vehicle so marked units can prepare to strike (TPAC/hard stop/stinger).
Personal vehicles not fitted with blue lights and sirens MUST NOT partake in a pursuit.

Feeder vehicles is the use of a police vehicle to guide a subject to remain on a specific stretch of road i.e. suspect is fleeing up the LS Freeway, units positioned ahead or alongside to keep them on the freeway, where it is safer to conduct tactics.

No authorisation required.

Pros

Can help enforce driver to remain on desired route.
Can steer the subject towards a stinger site.

Cons

Not suitable if firearms risk present.
Subject vehicle may ram officers completing the manoeuvre.

Best Practice

Best completed by Roads Policing who are trained for the tactic & in high performance vehicles to make progress.
Should only be used when there is no anticipated firearms risk as can require getting close in line with vehicle.
Police motorcycles not suitable to act as feeder vehicles.

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