Ms Wendy Hesketh
[FOI #12846 email]
Our Reference: 46764
3rd July 2009
Dear Ms Hesketh,
I am writing with reference to your request for information regarding Police Training
in Medico-crime dated 4th June 2009, made under section 1(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act.
You asked for the following information:
Can you please tell me what training, if any, police forces receive
in relation to medico-crime? For example, the training that might
have been introduced in order to prepare forces to contribute
effectively to 'The Information Sharing Protocol between the
General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the
Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police
Officers’, or e.g. The Home Office Circular 45/1986?
I'm referring to the type of training that would be necessary to
avoid the sort of criticisms levelled at the Manchester
Metropolitan Police for their lack of investigative or detection
skills in relation to murder of patients identified by The Shipman
Inquiry.
Can you provide any detail as to the type of training offered, by
whom, and dates? Is it now a requirement that someone in each
regional police force is trained in aspects of medico-crime? If so,
can you please give more details?
Lastly, I would like to know when the first training in
medico-crime was introduced and what prompted this subject to
appear on the police training curriculum?
I am writing to advise you I have established that the information you requested is
not held by the NPIA.
National Policing Improvement Agency
The NPIA has no input into National Investigative Training on Medico-crime,
however it is often the case that many HO circulars and ACPO protocols are dealt
with as line management briefings rather than training.
Your right to complain
We take our responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act seriously but, if
you feel your request has not been properly handled or you are otherwise
dissatisfied with the outcome of your request, you have the right to complain. We
will investigate the matter and endeavour to reply within 3 – 6 weeks. You should
write to:
Director of Resources
Head of Secretariat
National Policing Improvement Agency
10-18 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NN
E-mail:
[email address]
If you are still dissatisfied following our internal review, you have the right, under
section 50 of the Act, to complain directly to the Information Commissioner. Before
considering your complaint, the Information Commissioner would normally expect
you to have exhausted the complaints procedures provided by the NPIA. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Further information about the NPIA is routinely published on our website at
www.npia.police.uk or through our publication scheme. If you require any further
assistance in connection with this request please contact us at our address above.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa Thorpe
NPIA FOI TEAM
National Policing Improvement Agency
Email: [NPIA request email]
Website: www.npia.police.uk
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