Tactical Contact Handbook

What Is Tactical Contact?

Tactical contact, a manoeuvre by the MET police, involves hitting a suspect's vehicle's back right or left to spin it out. It's effective in chases with dangerous criminals who ignore police' orders. This tactic DOES NOT require initiation on the vehicle but must be authorised and correctly performed.

Forms of Tactical Contact

Tactical Contact - This regular pit manoeuvre is commonly implemented in a chase. It must be done under 100mph.
High-Speed Tactical Contact - This advanced tactic, requiring high skill, is used in critical situations where standard tactics fail. It's similar to regular tactical contact but executed at speeds over 100mph and upwards of 250mph.

Reasons to authorise Tactical Contact

Tactical contact may be authorised for the following reasons: Chase has been going on for longer than 3 minutes (5 minutes for high-speed) + dangerous driving, swerving and driving on pavements.

Reasons to authorise Tactical Contact early

It is not common practice to request/authorise Tactical contact early. Usually, it is 3 minutes for standard Tactical Contact and 5 minutes for High-Speed Tactical Contact. The reasons to request/authorise early Tactical Contact are as follows: An extreme level of GTA driving, intentionally ramming officers / civilians constantly and getting a new car out of the garage.

RPU: Tactical Contact Information V3

High-Speed Tactical Contact (100mph+) Regulations

1.1 - An RPU Mentor and above (including Divisional Command) may authorise high-speed tactical contact
1.2 - The following ranks can perform High-Speed Tactical Contact: RPU: Interceptor+, SCO: OFC+, TRIDENT Constable+ during operations and Sergeant+ on patrol , ERPT: Specialist Response Team and Bronze Command+.
1.3 The following ranks can authorise High-Speed Tactical Contact: RPU: Mentor+, SCO: TRO +, TRIDENT Sergeant+ on operations and TRIDENT Inspector+ on patrol NPAS: TFO, or Divisional Command+.
1.3 - Low-speed tactical contact MUST already be authorised, and high-speed tactical contact should only be authorised if the vehicle cannot be stopped at a low-speed (100mph or less).
1.4 - May only be Authorised if in a pursuit for 5 minutes or longer with a valid reason to authorise high-speed measures. Reasons can include, but not limited to; Suspect has killed an officer, Suspect has rammed and harmed officers multiple times, suspect has gone off-road for a longer amount of time (going onto a small patch of grass for 5 seconds is not a reason).

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