The Importance of Post Incident Procedure Highlighted

10 October 2025

It is important for Federation Reps to be aware of how important their support to officers can be in Post-Incident Procedures, Essex Police Federation has said.

Vice Chair Alfie McPhilimey was speaking following the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Post-Incident Procedure (PIP) Seminar this week.

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.

Alfie said: “I thought the PIP Conference was a really good opportunity to remind ourselves as Reps just how important Post Incident Procedure is.

“How and where body worn video features within a PIP and the science behind how vision, memory and body worn video can differ.

“Listening to the lived experience of officers involved in a PIP was eye opening and really brave for them to relive and share their story.

“I feel their input was really valuable and should form part of future PIP training for Reps and PIMS across all regions.”

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.