Police operational advice

Expert, reliable advice and guidance for police forces on all operational matters.

Police operations involve legal risk on a daily basis. Decisions need to be taken, usually under pressure, and actions often have to be defended as a result of adverse publicity.  Good, reliable operational advice is essential in enabling police authorities to perform effectively, to protect officers and to maintain good public relations.

Weightmans' Police team has considerable experience in this specialist field. We work regularly with a number of police forces on a wide range of issues, with particular emphasis on risk management, planning and training.

As a police authority, we can help you make better decisions and deal effectively with every operational issue likely to arise. This includes advising officers and civilian staff on all aspects of PACE, attending briefings before large operations and advising on powers of arrest and detention. We also deal with obtaining warrants of further detention, exercising powers of seizure and retention, and using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act and Police Property Act.

Our supporting services include advising on training and health and safety issues, and drafting policies for sharing and disclosure of information to third party agencies under the Crime and Disorder Act. We also help with drafting indemnities and providing services to other bodies, and regularly advise on the impact of future legislation.

We offer a range of training vehicles to help you achieve practical improvements in the areas of policing that can lead to conflict with the public. Our group lectures and hands-on workshops are designed to raise awareness of current case law as it affects arrest and detention, use of force and similar issues.

Risk management is one of the most important areas of modern policing; we advise on what may have to be accepted as unavoidable risk and provide a full assessment of risk areas where policies can be adopted and action taken to minimise risk.

All our services are quality-based and designed to protect your operations and help you run them cost-effectively.  As part of our all-round service, we run a 24/7 telephone helpline so that one of our lawyers is always available to help you deal with incidents as they arise.