PSAEW statement on the amended guidance on joint note taking

Friday, 24 October 2008 12:00 AM

The issue of joint note taking was discussed by PSAEW's National Executive Committee in August. We were strongly of the view that joint note taking was legal, appropriate and should continue to be permitted.

In the light of recent legal advice, and after attending several meetings with ACPO and Police Federation colleagues, the PSAEW has signed up to the amendments for the ACPO Police Use of Firearms Manual which have been announced today.

Chief Superintendent Graham Cassidy, the Deputy National Secretary who represented the Association at the meetings, said: 'Our members were reluctant to change the current rules on note taking but were cognisant that those rules now appear to contravene Article 2 of the Human Rights Act and we have therefore accepted the legal advice supplied to ACPO to amend the guidance.'

The PSAEW has undertaken to work closely with ACPO and Federation colleagues around the implications in the change that has been made to the manual for our 1,650 members and indeed for all other members of the Police Service.

Chief Superintendent Cassidy said: 'We accept that our position is no longer sustainable in the light of legal advice. However, there are some major implications for the Service as a result of this fundamental change in procedure and we will work closely with ACPO and with the Police Federation to ensure that police firearms incidents continue to be managed in a way that safeguards the public and provides transparency to all concerned.'

Sarah Gibbons
Communication Manager
07989 855961

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