Method of Entry Policy
1. Statement of Policy
Forced entry into premises is an essential and regular part of police work. Dyfed-Powys Police will retain the capability to carry out “Method of Entry” procedures and will train officers in its safe application. The potential for officers to sustain injury in the process should not be underestimated.
In compliance with the Police (Health & Safety) Act 1997, the police service has developed a series of procedures to try and ensure that injuries to officers are minimised. These procedures will be known as Method of Entry (MoE) and will normally be conducted by police officers who are suitably qualified following specialist training.
This document and the associated standard operating procedures will provide definitive guidelines on training, equipment, and practices to be employed by officers who are suitably qualified in MoE techniques. Additionally, officers responsible for planning operations must adhere to this policy.
This policy document is not to be read in isolation and, if necessary, is to be read in conjunction with appropriate national Authorised Policing Practice (APP) documents such as the ACPO APP manuals relating to Armed Policing and Public Order.
Applies (but not limited) to: All categories of Dyfed-Powys Police officers and staff, whether full-time, part-time, permanent, fixed term, temporary (including agency staff, associates and contractors), seconded staff and volunteers. Police Officers, staff and volunteers accessing and using Force assets and property must have due regard to the contents of this policy.
2. Policy Scope
Any forced entry into premises will be conducted by authorised MoE officers, unless urgent forced entry is necessary:
- To save life and limb in emergency situations and not just general welfare concerns see case law below.
- To prevent serious damage to property (e.g., fire)
- In immediate pursuit of a suspect
In such circumstances, officers will need to make a dynamic risk assessment of the situation and take proportionate action. Officers must communicate their intention to carry out urgent forced entry to a supervisor or the Force Communication Centre. Where appropriate, officers should summon immediate assistance from trained MoE staff.
The Roads Policing Unit operates 24 hours a day. RPU officers have been trained to MoE Basic level for the purpose of urgent forced entry to save life. The RPU vehicles carry MoE Basic equipment for the purpose of urgent forced entry.
In circumstances of urgent forced entry to premises as described above, officers making the dynamic risk assessment should consider minimum protection of PPE for themselves. Minimum PPE will be available locally, details of which are available via the MoE Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
This policy and the associated SOP applies to all suitably trained MoE officers. Additionally, officers responsible for planning operations must adhere to this policy.
This policy should not in any way prevent officers from forcing entry into premises spontaneously to save life or limb or prevent serious damage to property (Sec 17(i)(e) PACE 1984). However, officers should have awareness for their own and other people’s safety when conducting spontaneous entry into a property.
In such circumstances, officers will need to make a dynamic risk assessment of the situation and take proportionate action. Officers must communicate their intention to carry out urgent forced entry to a supervisor or the Force Communication Centre. Where appropriate, officers should summon immediate assistance from trained MOE staff.
3. Powers and Policy/Legal Requirements
- Home Office Method of Entry Policy
- College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) – Armed Policing and Public Disorder
- Police (Health & Safety) Act 1997
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 – Section 17
- Dyfed-Powys Police Method of Entry Standard Operating Procedure
4. Options and Contingencies
The Method of Entry levels are –
Basic Level 3
Enhanced level 2
Advanced Level 1
The requirements of each level are detailed within the MoE SOP.
Roles and Responsibilities
Method of Entry Trainer
To be authorised as a force MoE trainer the officer:
- Will have attended and successfully completed a nationally accredited course at an approved training centre.
- Will hold First Aid trained to Module 2 First Aid Skills Police, Emergency First Aider.
- Will have a good working knowledge of equipment and techniques associated with MoE.
- Will have successfully completed a Health & Safety Risk Assessors’ course.
- Will Hold a relevant teaching qualification at Level 3 or above on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
- undertake delivery of a minimum of two MoE training courses on an annual basis (within 365 days) and engage in peer assessment review processes.
- Will Control MoE equipment centrally through the supporting role of Divisional MoE SPOC’s.
- Will maintain and update training records with the assistance of Resource Management Unit.
- Will arrange the initial MoE and annual MoE refresher courses.
- Will review operational MoE deployments when required or on a dip sample basis via Body Worn Video
Method of Entry Operatives
Prior to any operational deployment, MoE Operatives must consider any specific Health & Safety issues as outlined in their training. Unless an operation is required spontaneously and urgently, a formal risk assessment should be carried out prior to the operation.
MOE Instructors/Operatives will ensure a qualified First Aider is present in all operational and training situations in which MOE is used.
Where there is no time to conduct a pre-operational risk assessment, a dynamic risk assessment should be completed reference should be made to previous similar MoE risk assessments, where available.
Divisional MoE SPOC (single Person of Contact)
To be authorised as a Force MoE SPOC the officer:
- Will have attended and successfully completed an internal MoE nationally accredited course at Force Training Centre to Advanced Level.
- Will have a good working knowledge of equipment and techniques associated with MoE.
- Will complete monthly maintenance checks on divisional MoE Equipment and record details on the Central Maintenance spreadsheet as per the standard operating procedure (SOP).
- Will liaise with MoE lead trainer as per the SOP.
Risk Assessments
Officers, Staff, Volunteers and Supervisors will comply with the control measures included in the Generic Risk Assessment relative to operational deployments and training as detailed within the SOP appendices.
Training Requirements
Training will only take place at the identified training facility using the approved force training rig and under the governance of the regional Chief Firearms Officer (CFI) and their team.
All MoE training will be carried out under the supervision of a nationally accreted MoE Trainer who will conform to the syllabus for each level of competence.
Each course shall have an appropriate number of experienced nationally accredited MoE trainers to enable delivery of the module content. A minimum of two trainers must be present. During the delivery of practical sessions the number of trainers will be determined by the lesson being delivered.
The Code of Ethics principles are relevant to this policy -
- Courage
- Respect and Empathy
- Public Service
5. Take action and review
This policy and the associated standard operating procedure (SOP) will be monitored by the Nominated Person within the Specialist Operations Department to ensure -
- That it is fit for purpose
- Monitoring any challenges made to the policy
- Monitoring any changes to legislation and/or national procedure/guidance
Any amendments to this policy and/or the SOP will be made by the Nominated Person, Specialist Operations Department and overseen and approved by the Operational Policing Board.
CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Code of Ethics and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Code and the principles underpinning it.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This policy has been drafted in accordance with the Human Rights Act and has been reviewed on the basis of its content and the supporting evidence and it is deemed compliant with that Act and the principles underpinning it.
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 sets out the protected characteristics that qualify for protection under the Act as follows: Age; Disability; Gender Reassignment; Marriage and Civil Partnership; Pregnancy and Maternity; Race; Religion or Belief; Sex; Sexual Orientation.
The public sector equality duty places a proactive legal requirement on public bodies to have regard, in the exercise of their functions, to the need to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct that is unlawful under the Act;
- advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
- foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
The equality duty applies to all protected characteristics with the exception of Marriage and Civil Partnership, to which only the duty to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination applies.
Carrying out an equality impact assessment involves systematically assessing the likely or actual effects of policies on people in respect of all the protected characteristics set out above. An equality impact assessment should be carried out on any policy that is relevant to the public sector equality duty.
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT COMPLETED: October 2024