ASSAULT RESPONSE
PROTECTING OUR COLLEAGUES
Op Hampshire is the national initiative to improve the way we respond to assaults against police officers and staff
There were approximately 37,000 assaults on our colleagues in 2021, more than 100 offences a day. Policing has its inherent risks but being assaulted on duty is not part of the job. Our colleagues deserve support and care after an assault and minimum standards are urgently needed. There is no consistent national picture that provides significant detail or context to assault figures. An app has been created to allow forces to record assaults in a unified way. The app roll-out is integral to Op Hampshire, led by Oscar Kilo through the College of Policing. The app allows all forces to capture details quickly and consistently. It provides a deeper understanding of the true levels of violence against colleagues, identifies specific issues and provides an evidence base to make decisions and support forces to adapt training, equipment and procedures. Chief Inspector Dave Brewster, Operation
Hampshire Coordinator, says: “We need information to inform our decisions and risk assessment. This will help us consider solutions around protective equipment and safety training. This problem needs to be considered more broadly and more and more kit is not the only solution.
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“Through a national level of detail, we can articulate to our stakeholders the issues our colleagues face on behalf of the public and look for support from a deterrent perspective. This is why we have created the app.” The National Police Assaults Reporting App has been developed using Microsoft Office 365, which all forces either have or are receiving. It is designed for front line supervisors and has been trialled with City of London Police. It is simple to use, free
national picture. We stand ready to work with forces to ensure they maximise the benefits of this, as consistency is key and we must end the postcode lottery of officers receiving a different response if they are a victim of a crime.” Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of
“We are urging all forces to jump on board with Op Hampshire so we can start to understand the sheer scale and trends of the issue”
and it only takes around five minutes to complete a form. “We are urging all forces to jump on board with this so we can start to understand the sheer scale and trends of the issue. It may mean taking a step back from work underway in some forces but if we all step forward together this could be game-changing for addressing the increasing level of assaults.” Belinda Goodwin, PFEW Wellbeing
Secretary, says: “This roll-out is an incredible step forward in how we look at police assaults and will deliver a consistent
Policing, says: “No officer or staff member should have to face an assault doing their job, but we know many do every day. By making these assaults more visible and tracking the support that is provided through the app, we hope to better support officers and staff and ensure they get the care they need. The app will also help us build a deeper understanding and insight in the circumstances of how
these assaults happen.” Dave concludes: “The wellbeing of officers and staff is absolutely at the heart of this and there has never been a greater opportunity or need to address this issue, and to actually make a change in the way we record these incidents and provide officers and staff with the support they deserve.”
The app is now available for all forces through the Police Digital Service Solutions Catalogue, along with supporting guidance and information.
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