Final Exam Handbook
Final Exam Handbook
The purpose of this handbook is to prepare and increase your chances of passing your final exam. Necessary information that will be included within this handbook is listed as the following:
Weapon Management
Communications
Negotiations/hostage situations
Search Powers
Weapon management is a key part of an officer's day-to-day patrolling and policing. This also comes under ‘matching force’. An example of matching force and weapon management would be: you arrive on scene at a hostage situation, and the hostage taker is only armed with a machete (Bladed Article), which is deemed as a non lethal weapon. This means, in order to correctly match force; you would approach the situation with a taser in hand, instead of a glock. Another example of this, would be if a suspect is fleeing on foot, and does not have a gun out, you would again retrieve your taser, warn the suspect that they will be tased if they continue to run, and then tase them, instead of getting out your glock. This is because the suspect is not armed, and does not pose a threat or is not a danger to the public, so they can be tased and apprehended instead of being disarmed.
(AT NO POINT IF A SUSPECT HAS NO WEAPON WITHDRAWN YOU SHOULD NOT WITHDRAW A FIREARM, ALWAYS A TASER.)
There are 2 types of communications:
Pursuit Communications
Situational Communications
When you are in pursuit of a vehicle, the first thing that you must do is describe the vehicle model, and colour. If you have seen the suspects get into the vehicle, you will then describe what they are wearing, if they are armed (If you are aware), and how many of them there are inside the vehicle. Once doing this, you will then start to give communications on where the vehicle currently is, and where it is going. An example of this would be, “Currently In pursuit of (Vehicle Model and Colour), (Give reason for pursuit), they are currently heading north-bound passing the front of JD, taking a left and a right passing the front of simions, continuing north-bound passing the construction site.
Situational communications are when you have arrived on a scene, and you describe the situation and what is going on over the radios to other officers so that they are aware of the active situation you are currently involved in so that they are able to respond, and assist you with the situation at hand. A useful example of this would be, you have arrive at a store robbery; and there is a hostage taker with a phase 1 firearm (Pistol), and 2 hostages, dressed in a black north face t-shirt and white adidas trousers, and say if there's a vehicle parked outside or near the shop. This can be used in numerous different situations, not just a hostage situation.
Another example, a suspect has randomly approached your vehicle and withdrawn a firearm/bladed article, you would again communicate and relay the important information. This being, their clothing, what they are armed with, and how many suspects there are. Communications are vital, as it helps other officers get a rough understanding of the situation whilst they are still on-route.
Negotiating is again, a very important skill and vital part of information that every officer must know, as it is very common in day-to-day patrol. To begin negotiations with a hostage taker that has a weapon and a threat to the hostage, this being either a firearm or a bladed article. You will approach them, with either your taser or glock, out depending on what they are armed with and then say:
Hello, my name is (Rank + Name), I am here to take basic negotiations, why have you taken this person hostage?
They will then respond with a reason, you will progress and answer however you deem fit and necessary, and will then move on with the following question:
What are your demands, so that I can get this hostage out safely and unharmed today?
A usual response will normally be, free passage and a list of demands to a specific vehicle, or an impound vehicle and sometimes they will request money.
After they have informed you of their Reasonable demands, you will then communicate this over the radios. Once you have done this and you are ready to finalise, you will again communicate over the radios and say, “I am ready to finalise negotiations, can I have scene containment removed, and all officers in vehicles ready for a pursuit.”
You will then re-approach the hostage taker, and ensure that they are ready to finalise negotiations, and once they have say yes, you will again say over radios that negotiations are being finalised, and then inform the hostage taker that negotiations are also finalised and they may have free-passage to their vehicle.
Finally, once they have entered the vehicle you will point your firearm at them, and say “MET PD out the vehicle, or you will be shot”. You will then re-enter the store, and secure the hostage by searching them under “Section 1 of the PACE act.”
You can issue warnings for the following reasons:
They threaten you, or the hostage.
They discharge their firearm (If they have one)
Giving unrealistic demands (Only issue after 2nd unreasonable demand)
They refuse to stop moving around when they are asked to stop moving multiple times.
This Disarming Guide can be changed over time if you are not to sure on what it is you can watch the video Here.
Search powers are an important thing that every officer must know. Like prior key information stated, you will need to know this as it will aid you in your day-to-day patrol as it is a very common occurrence on which you will need to know search powers.
You can search people under the following acts and reasons:
Section 47 of the firearms act. (If they have had a visible firearm before detainment)
Section 1 of the PACE act (General search, or if someone has had a visible bladed article.)
Section 23 of the misuse of drugs act ( If someone has stated that they are in possession of illegal drugs, or you have a suspected reason that they are carrying illegal drugs.
The MetPD use state codes to easily communicate with other officers to make sure the Police radios don’t get clogged up with talking.
State2:On Patrol - This state code is for when you have just clocked on and are going on patrol or you are finished at a scenario and you are going back on patrol
Example: CPC-1 State 2 any current situations
State5:On route to a situation - This state code is used when you are on the way to a situation to let other officers know you are making your way there.
Example: CPC-1(Your Callsign) State5 to the latest panic
Example2: CPC-1(Your Callsign) State5 to the latest 999 call.
State6:On Scene - This state code is used when you are arriving at a situation.
Example: CPC-1(Your Callsign) State6 at the latest Panic
Example2: CPC-1(Your Callsign) State6 at the latest 999 call.
State15:Received - This state code is used when an officer is giving you information over the radio for them to know you have received the information they are giving you.
Example: State15 CO-1(Person giving you the information)
State16:Repeat last communication - This one is similar to State15 except you use this one if you need the officer to repeat the information he is giving you.
Example: State16 CO-1(Person giving you the information) please
IF AT ANY POINT YOU ARE UNSURE. Look Back to the PCSO/SO Handbook you were given during your Basic Training.