MASTS Vehicle Identification Equipment

33. The NPCC have informed the Government that the National Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) role profile (National Resource Standard) addresses the first part of this recommendation. This requires forces to have three covert vehicles equipped with covert blue lights and two-tones. It is incumbent on all forces conducting MASTS operations to ensure that they meet this requirement. The National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC) also provides further guidance on their actual use which all forces are required to understand and apply in the planning and operational phases of all MASTS operations. 34. The NPFTC details the consideration of the use of covertly fitted blue lights and sirens which can be used at the point of an intervention to assist the subjects to identify the vehicle as being part of a police operation. The NPTFC goes on to consider the care that needs to be taken so that the timing of the use of blue lights and sirens does not prematurely alert the subject to the covert operation and imminent arrest. The need to ensure that the use of sirens does not make it harder for the subject to hear verbal warnings issued by officers should also be considered. 35. The NPFTC also addresses the second part of Recommendation 8, on the consideration of the use of vehicle public address systems to provide appropriate verbal warnings. 36. Whilst vehicle public address systems do not form part of the National Resource Standard for MASTS vehicles, Recommendation 8 places a specific obligation on forces to consider fitting them and to consider their use in MASTS operations. NPCC do not intend to mandate vehicle public address systems. However, guidance states that forces should assess the tactical and logistical implications of fitting such systems to covert vehicles intended for use in MASTS deployments. A national circular reinforcing this guidance has been published in late 2019 by National Armed Policing secretariat.

33. The NPCC have informed the Government that the National Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) role profile (National Resource Standard) addresses the first part of this recommendation. This requires forces to have three covert vehicles equipped with covert blue lights and two-tones. It is incumbent on all forces conducting MASTS operations to ensure that they meet this requirement. The National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC) also provides further guidance on their actual use which all forces are required to understand and apply in the planning and operational phases of all MASTS operations.

34. The NPFTC details the consideration of the use of covertly fitted blue lights and sirens which can be used at the point of an intervention to assist the subjects to identify the vehicle as being part of a police operation. The NPTFC goes on to consider the care that needs to be taken so that the timing of the use of blue lights and sirens does not prematurely alert the subject to the covert operation and imminent arrest. The need to ensure that the use of sirens does not make it harder for the subject to hear verbal warnings issued by officers should also be considered.

35. The NPFTC also addresses the second part of Recommendation 8, on the consideration of the use of vehicle public address systems to provide appropriate verbal warnings.

36. Whilst vehicle public address systems do not form part of the National Resource Standard for MASTS vehicles, Recommendation 8 places a specific obligation on forces to consider fitting them and to consider their use in MASTS operations. NPCC do not intend to mandate vehicle public address systems. However, guidance states that forces should assess the tactical and logistical implications of fitting such systems to covert vehicles intended for use in MASTS deployments. A national circular reinforcing this guidance has been published in late 2019 by National Armed Policing secretariat.