SBA Police Vehicle Accidents - Suspension Policy PDF

**SBA POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS-SUSPENSION POLICY** **TABLE OF DOCUMENT DETAILS** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Title | SBA POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS -- | | | SUSPENSION POLICY...

**SBA POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS-SUSPENSION POLICY** **TABLE OF DOCUMENT DETAILS** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Title | SBA POLICE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS -- | | | SUSPENSION POLICY | +===================================+===================================+ | Reference No | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Relevant Department or Group | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Ownership | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Document Author | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Approved by | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Approval Date | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Implementation Date | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | To be Reviewed Date | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Last Revised Date | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Quality Assured by | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Protective Marking | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Linked to other | | | | | | Standing Order | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Relevant Legislation | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Pages | | | | | | (including this page) | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **TABLE OF CONTENTS** [The purpose](#s1) [Page 3](#s1) [Section 1](#s1) -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------ [Introduction](#s2) [Pages 3](#s2) [Section 2](#s2) [Categorisation of accident/incident](#s3) [Pages 4](#s3) [Section 3](#s3) [Procedure](#s4) [Pages 4](#s4) [Section 4](#s4) [General](#s5) [Pages 6](#s5) [ ] [Section 5](#s5) [Abbreviations and glossary](#s6) [Pages 8](#s6) [Section 6](#s6) **1.** []{#s1.anchor}**The purpose of this** **The purpose of this ordinance is to provide guidance in dealing with accidents involving police vehicles; the person involved in the accident, the investigating officer and the Senior Management Team.** **2.** []{#s2.anchor}**Introduction** 2.1 Driving can be one of the most hazardous tasks undertaken by police officers. Police vehicle accidents are a major cause of injury and a major cost to the force in accident repairs, third party claims and sickness absence. Police drivers (i.e. those police officers, special constables and civilian support staff who are authorised to drive police vehicles) are required to comply at all times with the Code of Practice for Police Drivers. Supervisors and managers should regard driving by their staff as an area for monitoring and development, and should suspend the authority to drive held by any police driver whose driving gives cause for concern. Such suspension is subject to confirmation by a Superintendent, who may arrange testing and refresher training where appropriate. The aim is to reduce the number and severity of accidents. Any accident involving a police vehicle is regarded as a serious matter and will be investigated. The instructions and methodology for dealing with police vehicle accidents has been reviewed. The procedures to be followed are set out in this revised Order and have been formulated to ensure fairness and consistency in the suspension policy relevant to driving authorisation, which must be considered in the event of a police vehicle accident. The procedures, as outlined, seek to give reassurance to personnel involved. It aims to ensure that where no fault is attributed to police drivers they should not be penalised by a period of suspension from driving for however short a period. The principle remains that the discretion in categorizing accidents and deciding/reviewing periods of suspension lies predominantly with the DCC and/or Divisional Commander. **3.** []{#s3.anchor}**Categorisation of accident/incident** 3.1 Any accident or incident involving a police vehicle which results in personal injury or damage to any vehicle or property will be categorised as follows: i\) [Category I] ii\) [Category II] **4.** []{#s4.anchor}**Procedure** 4.1 Wherever an accident occurs involving a police vehicle, a supervisory officer of higher rank than the police driver will attend the scene, take over the investigation of it and: 4.2 In all cases prior to the end of his/her tour of duty, the supervisory officer dealing with the accident will: The relevant supervisor will, as soon as is practicable and in any case within forty-eight hours of the accident, review the circumstances of the accident and take the appropriate action as outlined below depending upon his/her categorisation of the accident and apportionment of blame. iii\) [Category II -- No Fault] iv\) [Category II -- Fault] In all cases, the Relevant Supervisor must inform the police driver of the categorization of the accident, endorse his/her decision on the file as well as on the F/MT600 Driving PerAmit and notify both his/her decision and the status of the police driver's authority to drive police vehicles to HQ, Personnel Department Support Inspector. **5.** []{#s5.anchor}**General** **5.1** In determining the periodA of suspension, DCC/DCs or Relevant Supervisor will consider all the circumstances of the case and in particular the degree of blameworthiness of the police driver, the seriousness of the injury or damage and the police driver's driving record. Where a police driver's authority to drive has been suspended as a result of being responsible for: Then: i. ii. Where proceedings against a police driver are concluded in any way, including a finding of guilt at court, the relevant supervisor must immediately review the status of the person's authority to drive. HQ Support Inspector in consultation with the Fleet Manager has responsibility for monitoring police vehicle accidents and his/her advice should always be sought whenever death or serious injury is caused or serious allegations are made against a police driver. Nothing in this order prevents a supervisor suspending a police driver when his/her driving falls below an acceptable standard. Any such decision must be confirmed by a Superintendent. Supervisors should also consider that, in the particular circumstances of an accident/incident, whilst an officer may not be formally suspended, it may be in his/her interest not to drive police vehicles as part of normal police duty. []{#s6.anchor}**Abbreviations and Glossary** ***Police Driver:*** Any police officer, including SBAA civilian employees, who drive a vehicle owned or used by HQ BFC. The order refers to the term "police driver" even though his/her authorization to drive may for the time being be suspended. ***Police Vehicle:*** Any vehicle owned by, leased or loaned to HQ BFC and any vehicle being driven by a police driver in his/her official capacity, not being a vehicle for which he/she receives an allowance. ***Relevant Supervisor:*** An officer of the rank of Superintendent to whom the police driver is responsible. ***Fault:*** Where there is evidence of neglect, irresponsible behaviour, contravention of the Drivers Codes of Practice by the police driver or there are allegations or road traffic offences.