Security of Police Premises Policy

1. Statement of Policy

The purpose of this policy and the associated procedures document is to provide direction on the security of Dyfed-Powys Police Premises and Force Headquarters for the safety of personnel.

Owing to occasional domestic, national, and international situations, certain threats or levels of risk to police premises arise. It is therefore essential that this policy and the associated procedures document introduces security measures, which are necessary to increase awareness and vigilance and to protect personnel, police property and police premises.

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

This policy applies to all Dyfed-Powys Police officers, staff, contractors and volunteers. 

The Security Alert/Response Levels at police premises will reflect the current threat to police premises and personnel as a result of any situation created internationally, nationally or domestically and, are intended to ensure vigilance, protection and guidance to safeguard personnel, property and premises. These will link in with the Terrorist Threat Level applicable at the time.

All matters which may affect the RESPONSE LEVEL must be notified to the Assistant Chief Constable, Superintendent Specialist Operations and Chief Superintendent Uniform Policing. The aforementioned officers will then consider, through the Force Security Group, the security instructions to be implemented upon the raising of the Response level for Police Premises. Changes will be notified to LPA Commanders and Heads of Departments as required. Measures outlined in this and any relevant appendices must be implemented immediately when a change is notified.

3.  Powers and Policy/Legal Requirements

Force Major Incident Plan.

National Directives.

Advisory Group Messages.

Contingency Plan “Initial Response to Bomb Threats/Incidents and Acts of Terrorism”

4. Options and Contingencies

Roles and Responsibilities

Whilst all personnel have a duty in relation to security, the main areas of responsibility within Headquarters lie with:

• Headquarters Specialist Operations - will, through Departmental Heads, monitor and enforce procedures as set out in this policy and the associated procedures document and lead on security matters via the Force and Regional Security Groups.

 

• Heads of Departments – must ensure that as well as being conversant with the contents of this policy and the associated procedures document themselves, officers, staff and volunteers under their command are briefed to report or take action on anything that may arouse their suspicions. Officers, staff and volunteers must display and wear appropriate identification that is clearly visible at all times and ensure that visitors for whom they are responsible do likewise, Security identification for visitors will be issued by staff at the main entrance within the main HQ Building.

 

• LPA Commanders should consider the need for local arrangements in terms of the designation of responsibility and ensure that post-holders are aware of their responsibilities.

  

2.  Take action and review

This policy and the associated procedures documents will be subject to annual review in the first instance, with subsequent reviews conducted when required and at least bi-annually.  

This policy and the associated procedures document will be monitored to ensure its effectiveness, that it is fit for purpose, any challenges to the policy and changes to national guidance or strategies.  

All amendments to this policy and the associated procedures document will be approved via the Specialist Operations governance structure and 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: March 2024