Evaluation of Readiness
The recent and devastating attacks in Paris and elsewhere, imposes an urgent examination and evaluation of the capacity and readiness of police organizations to efficiently and effectively respond in a manner that prevents or minimizes incidents of death and injury and restores a sense of protection and safety to citizens as quickly as possible.
This is indeed a tall order but one that has to be realistically placed at the top of security planning and budgetary planning to ensure that, however complex and costly it is to train and equip the police to meet this challenge, the plan will not fall short because of inadequate resources.
What Extra Resources are Deployed?
It is just a bit too easy to go for the photo-shoot and announce that police services are receiving extra specialist training without taking account that many services are stretched to cope with existing existing operational responsibilities. What invariably happens when new and unexpected demands are made the "extra" resources are drawn from existing strengths.
"Only as Much Force as is Necessary."
Police are facing enormous and, in many countries, unprecedented acts of savagery and brutality. Police response, in most democratic and developed countries, is conditioned around considerations where professional, public and judicial expectations are framed around legal the principle, "Only as much force as is necessary may be exercised to accomplish control and constrain assailants."
Police Shootings
We have witnessed the outcry of the public and the media coverage of instances where individuals have been shot by police officers responding to some incidents where, on examination, it transpires that the injured or deceased victim was unarmed or posed no threat to the police officer. In some high-lighted incidents, video recordings show the suspect or victim running away from the officer when the officer opens fire, with lethal consequences.
Threat to Life
Some Police Services insist that there is absolutely no justification to shoot at a suspect or culprit if they are running away and fleeing the scene. The justification for shooting in the first instance lies in the fact that the officer believed his or her own life, or the life of someone he was protecting was in imminent danger and that he feared for his life or the life of the person he was protecting. Where the culprit is fleeing, then, obviously, the imminent threat has passed, temporarily, at least and therefore the justification for shooting the culprit has passed. Obviously, there are many other jurisdictions where , it appears that shooting at a person fleeing the scene is considered to be justified or otherwise condoned and, apparently, sanctioned, particularly if the perpetrator is deemed by the police officer to have committed a felony.
Response to Terror
Today, there is a perceived international threat to security and European Government Representatives are meeting with a view to determining how best the threat and the preparedness to prevent and respond to them is met.
Incognito
Already, we see in the physical presence of some police and military responses, the officers and soldiers are disguised - their faces are covered and in some instances, police appear without visible identification of rank or number. There is, obviously, a reasonable measure to take to protect those officers involved from reprisal. But it is a dramatic change and a challenge to the notions of increasing demands of transparency and accountability that have exercised. While these steps might be considered absolutely necessary they should not be introduced arbitrarily and, certainly ought not be introduced to permit or tolerate behaviour or practices that will not brought to account.
New Approach to Training
Recent media coverage of revised tactical training of British Police Officers, in the light of the recent terrorist attacks, apparently directs that officers responding will not be distracted by the wounded victims of such attacks, even if they are fallen colleagues and maintain the primary objective of neutralizing the terrorists. Again, one can readily see and understand the strategic logic and importance of this approach. The evidence in Paris shows there was just intent on slaughter as many as possible and, hence, the absolute urgency of a response that would have immediate effect to minimize further loss of life. But it is a change. It is a radical change for police officers in particular whose normal response is to take immediate steps to protect life and property, but in situations where there has been killing and hostage taking, to take control of the scene and set hostage negotiations train. Again, obviously, the perpetrators of the recent attacks demonstrated no interest in negotiations of any sort and came with intent to kill and maim.
All is Changed...Changed Utterly
It is, as pointed out, a change, especially for police officers. Military personnel are trained differently to cope with different situations. Now, we are faced with training police officers to respond in a similar manner to their military counterparts. In Western Democracies this is a sea change. We are aware of experiences where military were deployed to address situations of political and social unrest, in Northern Ireland, for example and in other situations in Africa in recent years, in the Ukraine, more recently and, it can be said, in each situation with disastrous consequences. We know that does not work. However, now, we are faced with new forms of terror that require new forms of response. Police officers will go into these situations to defend and protect the rest of us. We need to build trust and confidence in those called to respond on our behalf. They do not need to feel that some, "Watch Dog" will be ready to pounce and investigate alleged wrong-doing or excessive use of force, when they are, bona-fide, endeavouring to accomplish what we expect of them. We need to communicate to them and to all concerned, that while maintaining that the rule of law predominates, we imbue them with the confidence that where they act in good faith in carrying out their duties, they will maintain the respect and support of their governments and communities. Those who act outside the law in their response lose their entitlement entitlement to our support, respect and protection.
It is obvious, of course, but important to state, police officers required to prepare for and confront such terrifically difficult and dangerous situations need to know their country and community and state is fully supportive of them and will stand by them.
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