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Latest changes to APP

Overview of the latest changes to APP.

APP is subject to review (either scheduled or triggered) in consultation with the relevant National Policing Business Area. All amendments go through a review process and further information is available from [email protected]

More detailed changes to APP content may be recorded separately by the the APP team. If you require a copy of APP as it was on a particular date (for example, for an enquiry) please email [email protected]. All requests must be approved by the relevant Policing Standards Manager.

Latest changes to APP

Date Category Guidance Changes
Major investigation and public protection > Managing sexual offenders and violent offenders Notification requirements

Text amendment to introduction and removal of reference to Risk Matrix in referral criteria.

Major investigation and public protection > Managing sexual offenders and violent offenders Reviews

Offender Assessment System (OASys) added to section on Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) record inspection.

Major investigation and public protection > Modern slavery List of anti-slavery charities and non-governmental organisations

Updated contact number for Medaille Trust.

Armed policing Armed deployment

Addition of content to existing sections on:

  • 'Assess threat and risk and develop a working strategy'
  • 'Briefing'
  • 'Briefing' – '5. Keeping a record'
Armed policing Command
  • Amendment to existing section on 'Command roles and functions' – addition of content about separation of responsibilities of different functions.
  • Addition of new section and content with subheading 'Planning meetings', beneath 'Initial command responsibility'.
  • Amendment to existing section on 'Sustained public protection' – addition of content about balancing risk and sufficiency of evidence, and consulting with sentencing guidelines.
  • Amendment to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' in the existing section, 'Approval and authorisation of tactical plans'.
  • Amendment to bulleted lists of responsibilities for both strategic firearms commanders (SFCs) and tactical firearms commanders (TFCs), to clarify that 'actions and decisions are recorded in accordance with national minimum standards'.
  • Renamed heading 'Occupational and operational competence within command roles' to 'Selection and accreditation for command and tactical advisor roles', and added content relating to an auditable selection process for SFCs and TFCs. 
  • Addition of new content beneath existing heading 'Re-accreditation and refresher process for commanders and tactical advisors'.
Armed policing Discharge of firearms

Amendments to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' – this change affects content under the existing sections, 'Critical shot' and 'Threat to life'.

Armed policing Legal framework

Change to existing section on 'Lawful orders' to replace the term 'order' with 'authorisation'.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Amendment to existing sections on:

  • 'Special leave or suspension from duty' – addition of circumstance where key police witnesses (KPWs) should not contact colleagues in the police service.
  • 'Authorisation' – addition of content around making evidence-based assessments about permitting officers and staff to resume duties.

Addition of new content about 'Body-worn video' beneath existing section on 'Record information'.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons
  • Addition of new heading 'Command authorisation to use force'.
  • 'Access to decisive information' moved below new heading 'Command authorisation to use force'.
  • Addition of new heading 'Rifle-initiated entry to save life' and associated new content.
  • Amendment to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' in the existing section, 'Influencing factors'.
Major investigation and public protection > Hate crime Responding to hate

Change to section on 'Hostility' to include antisemitism.

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