Recommendations - Nottinghamshire Police, February 2026

The IOPC recommends that Nottinghamshire Police Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team should always wear body worn video (BWV) on every enforcement visit.

This follows an IOPC investigation where Nottinghamshire Police's ICE team attended the address of a man following a referral from the National Crime Agency into indecent images, and the man stabbed himself in the neck whilst the officers were triaging his digital devices. The recommendation will not only allow the investigative team to capture evidence of use in their investigation but also provides transparency to demonstrate the actions of the officers and members of the public.

The IOPC recommends that Nottinghamshire Police introduce a process and standard document for its Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team for conducting risk assessments on those subject to an enforcement visit, before the visit takes place and before the suspect is aware of the investigation. This should include specific consideration of the need for arrest, the suspect’s welfare, and the officers’ welfare, as well as the expectation of direct supervision of the suspect whilst at the address. It should also include intelligence checks relating to the individual and the address. This process should be documented in a policy deemed appropriate by the force.

This follows an IOPC investigation where Nottinghamshire Police's ICE team attended the address of a man following a referral from the National Crime Agency regarding the uploading of indecent images. The man stabbed himself in the neck at the address whilst the officers were triaging his digital devices.

This recommendation will facilitate the investigative team to conduct a more in-depth risk assessment prior to the enforcement visit taking place. This could include consideration of the layout of the address and mitigating steps to arrest or restrict the movements of the suspect in an unknown environment.

This is in line with the College of Policing’s ‘Operational Advice for Managing the risk of suicide for persons under investigation for online child sexual abuse and exploitation’, which emphasises the importance of considering suicide risk at the earliest opportunity.

The IOPC recommends that Nottinghamshire Police should review and amend policy documents ‘PS260 – Suicide Prevention and Risk Management of Suspects’ and ‘PD485 – Dealing with Indecent Images of Children and Extreme pornography’ to include suspects who are under investigation (including those visited at home) or those that have attended a voluntary interview at a police station.

This follows an IOPC investigation where Nottinghamshire Police's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team attended the address of a man following a referral from the National Crime Agency regarding the uploading of indecent images. The man stabbed himself in the neck at the address whilst the officers were triaging his digital devices.

Force policy focuses on suicide risk assessments in relation to suspects who have been arrested and released from custody rather than those who may be under investigation but have not been arrested. This recommendation will facilitate the investigative team to capture the suspect’s mental health state at the point of initial contact (prior to any arrest), complete a dynamic assessment of the situation, and enable officers not only to react to any new information, but to provide any available welfare or signposting deemed necessary.

This is in line with the College of Policing’s ‘Operational Advice for Managing the risk of suicide for persons under investigation for online child sexual abuse and exploitation’ which emphasises the importance of considering suicide risk at the earliest opportunity.