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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Driving Permits'.
 
Freedom of Information Office
Information Disclosure Unit
Woodhill House, Westburn Road
 
Aberdeen
AB16 5AB
 
Our Ref:  FOI /515/09/JS 
Tel:  01224 305171
Your Ref:  
Fax:  01224 305161
 
[Grampian Police request email]
Date: 
29 October 2009 
www.grampian.police.uk
 
Mr N Smith 
 
By Email 
 
Dear Mr Smith, 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 515/09 
 
I refer to your email of 7 October 2009, in which you requested information in terms 
of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. 
 
I have repeated your questions hereunder, for your ease of reference; 
 
1)  What levels of driving authorisations are offered? 
 
Basic  
Standard 
Advanced 
Standard Motorcycle Course 
Advanced Motorcycle 
Pursuit Driving 
Security Escort Driving 
Motorcycle Security Escort 
4 X 4 on and off road 
Category D1 Driving course (mini-bus)  
Category D Driving Course (PCV) 
Category C1 Driving Course (Vehicle Under 7.5 tonne)  
Category C Driving Course (Vehicle Over 7.5 tonne) 
 
2)  What do each of the driving authorisations allow the holder to do? 
 
BASIC – Drive any motor car confined to speed limits. Cannot drive vehicle in 
Emergency Response mode – I. E. blue lights and sirens.  
 
STANDARD – Drive any low or medium performance car in emergency 
response mode. 
 
ADVANCED – As above but can also drive high performance vehicles. 
 
STANDARD MOTORCYCLE COURSE – Allows the rider to ride the 
motorcycle in emergency response mode.  Capped to speed limit + 30mph. 
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED MOTORCYCLE COURSE – Allows the rider to ride the 
machine in emergency response mode with no speed restrictions. 
 
PURSUIT DRIVING – Allows advanced drivers to carry out vehicle pursuits 
in line with the ACPOS Manual of Guidance. 
 
SECURITY ESCORT DRIVING – Allows the driver to drive in Security 
Escort situations – VIP/Royalty escorts etc. 
 
MOTORCYCLE SECURITY ESCORT – Allows the rider to ride his 
motorcycle in security escort situations. 
 
4X4 – Drive 4X4 vehicles in on road and off road situations 
 
CATEGORY D1 DRIVING COURSE – Authorised to drive category D1 
vehicles. 
 
CATEGORY D DRIVING COURSE (PCV) - Authorised to drive category D 
vehicles. 
 
CATEGORY C1 DRIVING COURSE - Authorised to drive category C1 
vehicles. 
 
CATEGORY C DRIVING COURSE  - Authorised to drive category C 
vehicles. 
 
3)  What training is required for each of the driving authorisations and 
how are the candidates assessed?  How long in length are the courses 
for each of the respective driving permits? 
 
BASIC  - Approximately 1 hour practical driving assessment by a Police 
Driving Instructor.  Knowledge of highway code also tested. 
  
STANDARD – 4 week driving course which entails continual assessment as 
well as progress/final assessment drives.  In addition there are theory 
examinations on the Roadcraft manual and Highway Code.  Emergency 
response training is carried out on week 4 following successful completion 
of weeks 1 to 3.  This is continual assessment as well as a final assessed 
drive. 
 
ADVANCED – Four week course carried out at the Scottish Police College, 
Tulliallan. 
 
STANDARD MOTORCYCLE COURSE – Three week course which entails 
continual assessment as well as progress/final assessment rides.  In 
addition there are theory examinations on the Roadcraft manual and 
Highway Code.  Emergency response training is included at the end of the 
course. 
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED MOTORCYCLE - Four week course carried out at the Scottish 
Police College, Tulliallan. 
 
PURSUIT DRIVING – Carried out by Scottish Police College following 
successful completion of the Advanced Driving Course. 
 
SECURITY ESCORT DRIVING – One week course carried out by Scottish 
Police College. 
 
MOTORCYCLE SECURITY ESCORT – One week course which entails 
continual assessment and a final assessed exercise. 
 
4 X 4 ON AND OFF ROAD – One day course with continual assessment 
throughout the day. 
 
CATEGORY D1 DRIVING COURSE (MINI-BUS) – One week course 
carried out by a qualified D1 Instructor.   Examined to Driving Standards 
Agency (DSA) standards both in respect of practical and theory 
examinations. 
 
CATEGORY D DRIVING COURSE (PCV) – If required, training would be 
sourced from an outside training establishment. 
 
CATEGORY C1 DRIVING COURSE (VEHICLE UNDER 7.5 TONNE) - If 
required, training would be sourced from an outside training establishment. 
 
CATEGORY C DRIVING COURSE (VEHICLE OVER 7.5 TONNE) - If 
required, training would be sourced from an outside training establishment. 
 
 
4)  Are any of the driving authorisation courses which are offered by your 
Force, provided in a modular basis, (i.e. are they offered in modules of 
1 week at a time until the course is complete etc), 
 
No, there are specific modules, which have to be covered, but they all 
interlink with each other as the course progresses. 
 
5)  Which of the authorisations are available to Special Constables? 
 
Basic is offered to Special Constables.  Other authorisations would be 
considered if they were deemed necessary. 
 
6)  If any modular courses are offered, are the available to Special 
Constables? 
 
As modular courses are not offered, this question is not applicable. 
 
7)  How many Special Constables in your Force have driving 
authorisations  which allow them to respond (i.e. use blue lights, 
sirens and allowed the holder to utilise the relevant exemptions 
 
 
 
afforded to them in law with respect of speeding, going through red 
lights etc), 
 
There are currently no Special Constables who have the sufficient driving 
authorisation to drive a police vehicle with blue lights and sirens. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries.  However, if you 
are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been dealt with, you are 
entitled, in the first instance, to request a review of the decision made by the Force.  
Should you wish to proceed, please write to Iain Gray, Head of Information 
Disclosure Unit, Grampian Police, Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, 
AB16 5AB, within 40 working days of receiving this letter, stating clearly that you 
request a review and the decisions you wish reviewed.   
 
If, after having been informed of the review decision you are still not satisfied, you 
are entitled to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision within 
six months of the date of the review response.  Contact details are Office of the 
Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes Road, St 
Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, telephone 01334 464610. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Miss Jody Stewart 
Assistant Manager – Freedom of Information 
 
 

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