Policing guidance

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

Go to authorised professional practice (APP)

Read operational guidelines

Conducting effective investigations

How to ensure investigations are conducted effectively, regardless of offence type or complexity

Effective implementation of problem-oriented policing

How to embed a sustainable problem-oriented policing approach in your organisation, plus practical advice and supporting resources

Conflict management

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

Effective supervision

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

Neighbourhood policing

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

Obtaining initial accounts

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

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

Information about legislation and policing powers to address anti-social behaviour.

Go to the toolkit

Codes of practice

PNC and LEDS

Principles for the ethical and professional processing of data and information managed through the Police National Computer (PNC) and the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS)

Vetting

Principles and ethical standards for police vetting

Armed policing and police use of less lethal weapons

Principles for firearms, specialist munitions and less lethal weapons by police

Information and records management

Principles for police information and records management

Code of Ethics

Principles and standards of professional behaviour for the policing profession of England and Wales

Guides and evidence briefings

Drug crimes

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

Knife crime evidence briefing

Broad approaches that are effective in tackling knife crime

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

Right Care Right Person (RCRP) toolkit

How to implement the RCRP approach in your force and work effectively with partner agencies to respond to mental health incidents

Homicide problem-solving guide

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

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

Residential burglary

A practice guide for anyone responsible for residential burglary investigation, prevention and reduction

Serious violence hot spots policing guide

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

Investigation of retail crime

Joint guidance from the College and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) to improve investigations of retail and business crime

Neighbourhood crime

Evidence briefing about situational crime prevention interventions to reduce neighbourhood crime

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

Violence against women and girls toolkit

Toolkit to support police officers and staff to protect women and girls. Includes existing offences that police responders can consider and links to protective tools and resources