Unit Title

CE201

/

Prepare and drive patrol and response vehicles

Summary

This unit is about preparing and driving vehicles for patrol and for responding to incidents. The unit is appropriate for drivers who are authorised to provide emergency responses to incidents.
Preparation involves pre-use inspections to ensure the vehicle is suitable and safe for use. It also covers checking that the required operational equipment (e.g. fire extinguisher, first aid box, signs, cones etc) is available, and rectifying or reporting any defects.
You must be able to drive patrol and response vehicles safely in accordance with legislation, current policy and your authorisation. In instances where it is necessary to exercise statutory exemptions, you must be able to justify your actions. You will need to take into account road type and prevailing conditions, and the health and safety of yourself and others.
Note that this unit does not cover pursuit or providing a vehicle escort. These competences are described within separate units.

There are two elements:

CE201.1 / Prepare patrol and response vehicles for use
CE201.2 / Drive patrol and response vehicles safely

Target Group

This unit is appropriate for drivers who are authorised to provide emergency responses to incidents and have successfully completed the appropriate parts of a nationally recognised driver training programme.

This unit was developed by Skills for Justice.

Skills for Justice / Page 1
National Occupational Standards for Policing & Law Enforcement / Final version approved April 2009

Element

CE201.1

/

Prepare patrol and response vehicles for use

Performance Criteria

To meet the standard, you

1 / identify the class of vehicle that you are authorised to drive
2 / carry out a pre-use inspection of the vehicle in accordance with manufacturer's guidance, current legislation and policy
3 / identify any problems with the vehicle and take the appropriate action
4 / ensure any operational equipmentrequired to be with the vehicleis present, and in working order
5 / keep accurate and complete documentation relating to preparation and inspection of the vehicle as required

Range

1 / problems
a / damage
b / defect
c / lack of equipment
2 / appropriate action
a / rectify the problem
b / report the problem

Element

CE201.2

/

Drive patrol and response vehicles safely

Performance Criteria

To meet the standard, you

1 / drive vehicles safely within your authorisation and personal limitations at all times
2 / drive vehicles in accordance with legislation, the Highway Code,manufacturer's guidance and policy
3 / justify your actions when it is necessary to exercise statutory exemptions when driving the vehicle
4 / drive within the limitations of the vehicle, whilst taking into account road type, time of day or night, traffic volume, road surface, visibility and weather conditions
5 / take into account the health and safety of self and others during driving
6 / recognise and respond appropriately to fatigue, stress and other factors that might impair your judgement, performance and decision-making while driving
7 / undertake emergency responses safely in line with the principle of proportionality
8 / correctly identify and report any vehicle defects or damage that occurs whilst the vehicle is under your control in accordance with policy
9 / ensure that all actions, decisions and rationale are recorded in accordance with policy and legislation

Range

1 / road type
a / motorways and dual carriageways
b / major roads
c / minor roads
d / urban settings
e / rural settings
2 / time of day or night
a / daylight
b / darkness
3 / traffic volume
a / low
b / high
4 / road surface
a / good
b / poor
5 / visibility
a / good
b / poor
6 / weather conditions
a / good
b / poor

Unit

CE201

/

Prepare and drive patrol and response vehicles

Knowledge and Understanding

To meet the standard, you need to know and understand

Legal and organisational requirements

1 / current, relevant legislation, policies, procedures, codes of practice and guidelines in relation to preparing and driving patrol and response vehicles, and undertaking emergency responses
2 / current, relevant legislation and organisational requirements relation to health and safety
3 / statutory exemptions and conditions under which they apply and are justifiable
4 / the requirements of the Highway Code and principles of Roadcraft

Pre-use inspection

5 / the classes of vehicle that you are authorised to drive
6 / the types of pre-use inspections that are required
7 / manufacturer's guidance regarding the parts of the vehicle which should be inspected and the limitations on these checks
8 / the types of problems which may occur with vehicles and how they should be dealt with
9 / the types of operational equipment required for patrol
10 / the condition in which the patrol and response vehicle should be left after use

Driving patrol and response vehicles

11 / your personal limitations for driving patrol and response vehicles
12 / how to drive patrol and response vehicles safely and efficiently
13 / the limitations of the patrol and response vehicles you are authorised to drive
14 / how to take into account route, road type, time of day or night, traffic volume, road surface, visibility and weather conditions when drivingpatrol and response vehicles
15 / the importance of considering the health and safety of self and others at all times during driving
16 / how to take into account the health and safety of self and others during driving
17 / how to recognise and take account of fatigue, stress and other physical and psychological factors that might affect your judgement, performance and decision-making during driving
18 / your level of authority in responding to emergencies
19 / how to determine and initiate proportionate, justifiable and appropriate emergency responses
20 / the importance of assessing the need for continued emergency response
21 / how to determine the need to respond using audible and visual emergency warning devices
22 / the likely impact of audible and visual emergency warning devices on others

Documentation

23 / the types of documentation that must be completed
24 / how to complete the relevant documentation

Evidence Requirements

1You must practically demonstrate in your work that you have met the standard for providing a preparing and driving patrol and response vehicles.

2Where simulations are used to provide performance evidence, these should properly reflect the requirements of real working situations.

3Element CE201.1 Prepare patrol and response vehicles for use

From the range in element 1 you must show that you:

- have dealt with 2 of the problems*

- have taken both types of appropriate action

4Element CE201.2 Drive patrol and response vehicles safely

From the range in element 2 you must show that you:

-have taken account of three of the road types*

-have taken account of both daylight and darkness

-have taken account of both high and low traffic volumes

-have taken account of both good and poor road surfaces

-have taken account of both good and poor visibility

-have taken account of both good and poor weather conditions

* Items from the range not covered by performance evidence should be supported by knowledge evidence.

Skills for Justice / Page 1
National Occupational Standards for Policing & Law Enforcement / Final version approved April 2009