Policing guidance | College of Policing

Evidence-based information and support for frontline policing to provide consistency and a better service for the public.

Authorised professional practice (APP)

Operational guidance on how to deal with different types of crime or incident – from first response through to investigation, legal issues and public protection

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Conflict management

Information and practical support on officer and staff safety, diffusing situations and non-physical ways to deal with conflict, aggression and violence

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Obtaining initial accounts

How to get good quality information from witnesses and victims at the early, first-response stage – before formal interview

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Neighbourhood policing

How to understand communities, build trust and work together with communities, supported by private, public and voluntary sector partners

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Vulnerability-related risk

How to recognise and respond to risks when working with vulnerable people

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Effective supervision

Guidelines to support the wellbeing, learning and performance of everyone in the police service through effective supervision

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Violence against women and girls toolkit

Toolkit to support police officers and staff to protect women and girls.

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Evidence briefings and guides

Drug crimes

Evidence briefing about the best strategies and interventions to reduce drug offences

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Homicide problem-solving guide

Problem-solving guide for homicide prevention, including scanning, analysis, response and assessment

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Knife crime evidence briefing

Broad approaches that are effective in tackling knife crime

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Knife crime problem-solving guide

Guide for tackling local knife crime, building on our knife crime evidence briefing. This sets out strengths and limitations of each type of action, how they work and where they work best

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Leadership expectations

Defining what good leadership looks like in policing, all at levels

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Neighbourhood crime

Evidence briefing about situational crime prevention interventions to reduce neighbourhood crime

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Reducing violence against women and girls in public spaces

Evidence briefing with strategies, tactics and general approaches to reduce violence against women and girls in public spaces

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Restorative justice

Evidence briefing about the process of repairing harm caused by criminal behaviour, including its effectiveness and how restorative justice can be used by police

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Serious violence hot spots policing guide

Seven-step guide for reducing serious violence using hot spots policing, including planning and implementation

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