Driving Permits

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : [email address]
For FOI requests : [Essex Police request email]
For Data Protection: [email address]
Website: www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

-----Original Message-----
From: N.Smith [mailto:[FOI #19597 email]]
Sent: 07 October 2009 08:12
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Driving Permits

Dear Sir or Madam,

I wanted to enquire about the driving permits offered by your Force
to Police Officers. The questions I have are:

1) What levels of driving permits are offered?
2) What do each of the driving permits allow the holder to do?
3) What training is required for each of the driving permits and
how are the candidates assessed? How long in length are the courses
for each of the respective driving permits?,
4) Are any of the driving permits offered by your Force, offered in
a modular basis, (i.e. are they offered in modules of 1 week at a
time until the course is complete etc),
5) Which of the permits are available to Special Constables?
6) If any modular courses are offered, are the available to Special
Constables?,
7) How many Special Constables in your Force have driving permits
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),

I would appreciate any information that is available, in particular
the information that relates to Special Constables.

Many thanks

Yours faithfully,

N.Smith

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Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference. Having completed my enquiries I am able to respond as follows:

I wanted to enquire about the driving permits offered by your Force to Police Officers. The questions I have are:

1) What levels of driving permits are offered?
2) What do each of the driving permits allow the holder to do?
3) What training is required for each of the driving permits and how are the candidates assessed? How long in length are the courses for each of the respective driving permits?

An updated police driver training manual was launched by ACPO in June 2009. The manual provides police force driving schools with a framework allowing them to develop a course based on the National Police Driving Standards. The following link may be of use:

<http://www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Pol...> http://www.acpos.police.uk/Documents/Pol...

Having checked with Essex Police's Driver Instruction team I can advise that the following courses are available

* Basic/NPPA (Neighbourhood Policing Patrol Authorisation) to drive within the confines of the highway code (1 day) open to Specials, Police Staff, PCSO's and Police Officers;

The NPPA is designed to equip the staff member to undertake all relevant aspects of their role with adequate training to safely perform those functions. The system of Basic Driving Authority does not allow a staff member to undertake certain vital aspects and further driver training is required. This course provides adequate training for all basic requirements

All eligible police officers will be allocated an NPPA during initial training. Special Constables will receive an NPPA upon completion of their PDP and recommendation from their Superintendent.

This course equips staff with skills sufficient to undertake their role without recourse to further training, unless or until such time as they are tasked with a specialist role (e.g., response officer, road policing etc.)

Prior to the course each student must receive a 'Staying Alive' input. No knowledge check will be required as every person will already have undertaken a DVLA Highway Code test and will be expected to have a working knowledge of the Highway Code.

The NPPA consists of:

Introductory input
Eyesight / licence check
Vehicle and equipment familiarisation
Safe stopping at incidents and roadside
Safe vehicle stopping
Driving assessment (1 hour with guidance and tuition)
Safety awareness on patrol

* Standard similar to basic in authority only open to Police Officers and 3 weeks training in accordance with the NPIA manual teaching the Road Craft Method of driving pass mark is 65%.
* Response can be accessed only by police officers who have attained a mark of 70% this is a one week course and taught in accordance with the NPIA manual.
* Initial Phase Pursuit can be accessed by Police Officers who have been recommended at the conclusion of their Response Course (2 day course)
* Advanced Driving can be accessed by Police Officers who have successfully completed the Response course.
* Other Specialist Training for Police Officers who have received a mark of 85% or above on advanced training.

4) Are any of the driving permits offered by your Force, offered in a modular basis, (i.e. are they offered in modules of 1 week at a time until the course is complete etc),

No
5) Which of the permits are available to Special Constables?
Basic / NPPA only.
6) If any modular courses are offered, are the available to Special Constables?,
N/A

7) How many Special Constables in your Force have driving permits 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),

Nil

I would appreciate any information that is available, in particular the information that relates to Special Constables.

I have attached a copy of Essex Police's policy relating to Special Constables (file ref. 2421.pdf) for information.

I hope the information provided is of use.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : <mailto:[email address]> [email address]
For FOI requests : <mailto:[Essex Police request email]> [Essex Police request email]
For Data Protection: <mailto:[email address]> [email address]
Website: <http://www.essex.police.uk> www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original request and should be addressed to Information Management at the above address.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Grayton On Behalf Of FOI
Sent: 07 October 2009 09:26
To: 'N.Smith'
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request our ref. 2421 - Driving Permits [NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED]

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : [email address]
For FOI requests : [Essex Police request email]
For Data Protection: [email address]
Website: <file://www.essex.police.uk> www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

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