PIP Evidence Review Must Be Impartial Process

13 October 2025

Reviewing evidence in a Post-Incident Procedure must be a fair and impartial process, particularly if an officer’s memory of an incident differs from body-worn video, Avon and Somerset Police Federation has said.

Secretary Marc Flavell was speaking following the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Post-Incident Procedure (PIP) Seminar. The annual seminar aims to keep Federation PIP practitioners up to date with legislation and regulations so that they can best support their members.

PIPs are carried out in all situations following police contact that have resulted in death or serious injury; revealed failings in command; or caused danger to officers or the public.

Many Federation Reps have been trained to the same level as a Post-Incident Manager (PIM) and can support officers through the PIP process. Effective PIPs mean officers are more likely to be able to keep working in the job they love.

This year’s PIP Seminar focused on how body-worn video may not always reflect what officers saw and experienced during a split-second incident, and how PIP investigators should understand that this is normal and has scientific explanations.

Marc said: “The session about officer recall was particularly interesting. Officers are human and there has been a lot of scientific study about how the brain processes and recalls traumatic information.

“We must ensure that processes are in place to ensure that the entire PIP process is fair and impartial throughout.

“The review of digital evidence such as body-worn video needs to be held in a fair way without speculation or assumptions being made if it differs from an officer’s recall of the incident.

“The demands of policing put officers under pressure that most people will never experience, particularly in incidents that lead to a PIP process.

“These most serious of incidents have an immeasurable effect on the officers, and their families and friends.”

If officers are involved in a PIP, they should consider the following:

• You may be treated as a suspect or a witness. This is a very fine line. It is in your interest that if you are being treated as a suspect you should say nothing until legal advice has been obtained. You have legal rights under the PACE Act 1984 and these should not be compromised.

• If, however, you are being treated as a witness, remember all conversations are disclosable.

• Ask the PIM to contact the Police Federation, which can arrange legal advice and other support including contact with relatives, refreshments and so on.

• Initial notes should only be made subject to medical and legal advice.

• The Manual of Guidance recognises that statements should only be made after officers have overcome any initial shock of the incident. Be guided as to when you are ready by medical advice, a solicitor or the Federation.