Recommendation 1
The IOPC recommends that Northamptonshire Police should revise its Force Control Room (FCR) training to include content on responding to incidents on major roads. This should include how to input and record locations of incidents reported on fast roads, including contra-flow incidents on dual carriageways.
This follows an IOPC investigation whereby a member of the public contacted police reporting that a man was walking along a dual carriageway, had recently passed the services, walking against the flow of traffic. The call was graded as requiring an emergency response.
The investigation found that there were errors regarding the inputting of the location of where the man was sighted onto the incident log. This in turn appeared to have led to confusion within the log, and the correct search area was not communicated to the response officers by the dispatcher. Furthermore, evidence obtained during the investigation found that response officers incorrectly identified one of the junctions resulting in a shortened search area. Evidence obtained showed that officers searched an area that was 3.7 miles away from the initial sighting of the man. During the investigation it became evident that there was level of anxiety and concern around receiving reports of this nature involving fast roads, and particularly inputting locations on the systems correctly. The investigation found that no specific training was given to staff in relation to major/ fast roads and FCR staff fed back that they would find training useful, in particular scenarios where they could practice inputting locations, junctions and directions.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Addressed to: Northamptonshire Police
Linked bodies:
Northamptonshire Police