PFD report

Rosario CORDERO-SANZ · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 29 Oct 2018•Inner North London

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
8

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
10

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised8

  1. Inadequate understanding of the missing person process among special police officers
    Part of recurring concern: Unreliable missing-person response
  2. Inadequate understanding of section 136 Mental Health Act and mental health issues among special police officers
    Part of recurring concern: Insufficient police training for safe recognition and response to mental-health and behaviour-related medical crisesPart of recurring concern: Unsafe operation of Section 136 mental health assessment and detention procedures
  3. Failure to consider and communicate ambulance involvement when clinically indicated
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to call an ambulance promptly when emergency assistance is requiredPart of recurring concern: Unreliable decisions about when ambulance attendance is required
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.7

  1. Action

    Roll out 100 pool tablet devices for Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers across frontline policing.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 February 2019.
  2. Action

    Launch and operate a mental-health and wellbeing campaign providing training, awareness and support to officers.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 February 2019.
  3. Action

    Provide local learning addressing communication and active-listening failures involving Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers and the CAD operator.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 February 2019.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.5

  1. Position

    Existing foundation training is considered sufficient for special officers handling missing-person incidents.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate understanding of the missing person process among special police officers

Wider context from the report

“2. In addition, the jury heard as follows. - The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. - They did not (save for one who had attended such calls before) appear to have an in depth understanding of the s136 Mental Health Act / mental health potential issues. - They did not consider using language line to assist them in obtaining information from the non native English speaking friend, with whom they spoke outside the building where Ms Cordero-Sanz was staying with a friend. Being able to speak in his native language might have facilitated the informant to give fuller details, such as the fact that Ms Cordero-Sanz was by now hearing voices. - Having been told that she would be upset by their uniforms, they did not insist on seeing Ms Cordero-Sanz to assess her for themselves, or call for the assistance of a plain clothes colleague, or suggest that they speak to the friend who was sitting inside with her. - Nobody thought of calling an ambulance that night, save for the CAD (computer aided despatch) operator who took the call in the first place, but he did not mention he had done so to anyone else. I wonder whether this suggests a training need, and/or whether, given the difficulties in maintaining skills on only 15 hours a month, consideration could be given to teaming special officers with regulars? ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable missing-person response.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate understanding of section 136 Mental Health Act and mental health issues among special police officers

Wider context from the report

“2. In addition, the jury heard as follows. - The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. - They did not (save for one who had attended such calls before) appear to have an in depth understanding of the s136 Mental Health Act / mental health potential issues. - They did not consider using language line to assist them in obtaining information from the non native English speaking friend, with whom they spoke outside the building where Ms Cordero-Sanz was staying with a friend. Being able to speak in his native language might have facilitated the informant to give fuller details, such as the fact that Ms Cordero-Sanz was by now hearing voices. - Having been told that she would be upset by their uniforms, they did not insist on seeing Ms Cordero-Sanz to assess her for themselves, or call for the assistance of a plain clothes colleague, or suggest that they speak to the friend who was sitting inside with her. - Nobody thought of calling an ambulance that night, save for the CAD (computer aided despatch) operator who took the call in the first place, but he did not mention he had done so to anyone else. I wonder whether this suggests a training need, and/or whether, given the difficulties in maintaining skills on only 15 hours a month, consideration could be given to teaming special officers with regulars? ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Insufficient police training for safe recognition and response to mental-health and behaviour-related medical crises; Unsafe operation of Section 136 mental health assessment and detention procedures.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to consider and communicate ambulance involvement when clinically indicated

Wider context from the report

“2. In addition, the jury heard as follows. - The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. - They did not (save for one who had attended such calls before) appear to have an in depth understanding of the s136 Mental Health Act / mental health potential issues. - They did not consider using language line to assist them in obtaining information from the non native English speaking friend, with whom they spoke outside the building where Ms Cordero-Sanz was staying with a friend. Being able to speak in his native language might have facilitated the informant to give fuller details, such as the fact that Ms Cordero-Sanz was by now hearing voices. - Having been told that she would be upset by their uniforms, they did not insist on seeing Ms Cordero-Sanz to assess her for themselves, or call for the assistance of a plain clothes colleague, or suggest that they speak to the friend who was sitting inside with her. - Nobody thought of calling an ambulance that night, save for the CAD (computer aided despatch) operator who took the call in the first place, but he did not mention he had done so to anyone else. I wonder whether this suggests a training need, and/or whether, given the difficulties in maintaining skills on only 15 hours a month, consideration could be given to teaming special officers with regulars? ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to call an ambulance promptly when emergency assistance is required; Unreliable decisions about when ambulance attendance is required.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to use language support to obtain information from non-native English speakers

Wider context from the report

“2. In addition, the jury heard as follows. - The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. - They did not (save for one who had attended such calls before) appear to have an in depth understanding of the s136 Mental Health Act / mental health potential issues. - They did not consider using language line to assist them in obtaining information from the non native English speaking friend, with whom they spoke outside the building where Ms Cordero-Sanz was staying with a friend. Being able to speak in his native language might have facilitated the informant to give fuller details, such as the fact that Ms Cordero-Sanz was by now hearing voices. - Having been told that she would be upset by their uniforms, they did not insist on seeing Ms Cordero-Sanz to assess her for themselves, or call for the assistance of a plain clothes colleague, or suggest that they speak to the friend who was sitting inside with her. - Nobody thought of calling an ambulance that night, save for the CAD (computer aided despatch) operator who took the call in the first place, but he did not mention he had done so to anyone else. I wonder whether this suggests a training need, and/or whether, given the difficulties in maintaining skills on only 15 hours a month, consideration could be given to teaming special officers with regulars? ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to obtain critical information during initial police incident responses; Failure to obtain relevant collateral information from family and social supports.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to actively listen and recheck Merlin records when new identifying information is obtained

Wider context from the report

“3. The three special police officers who attended late that Friday evening / early Saturday morning were described as kind, and clearly demonstrated concern, but ultimately they did not know that they were dealing with a high risk missing person. Without tablets or a mobile data terminal, they had no means of checking this themselves. The jury found that the special sergeant and the CAD operator did not actively listen to one another. This meant that the Merlin system was not checked again after officers had obtained Ms Cordero-Sanz’s full name, missing the opportunity to match her details with those reported earlier and to identify her as a high risk misper. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Unreliable Merlin safety-critical risk information.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to obtain direct or supported assessment of a person when access is challenged by concerns about police uniforms

Wider context from the report

“2. In addition, the jury heard as follows. - The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. - They did not (save for one who had attended such calls before) appear to have an in depth understanding of the s136 Mental Health Act / mental health potential issues. - They did not consider using language line to assist them in obtaining information from the non native English speaking friend, with whom they spoke outside the building where Ms Cordero-Sanz was staying with a friend. Being able to speak in his native language might have facilitated the informant to give fuller details, such as the fact that Ms Cordero-Sanz was by now hearing voices. - Having been told that she would be upset by their uniforms, they did not insist on seeing Ms Cordero-Sanz to assess her for themselves, or call for the assistance of a plain clothes colleague, or suggest that they speak to the friend who was sitting inside with her. - Nobody thought of calling an ambulance that night, save for the CAD (computer aided despatch) operator who took the call in the first place, but he did not mention he had done so to anyone else. I wonder whether this suggests a training need, and/or whether, given the difficulties in maintaining skills on only 15 hours a month, consideration could be given to teaming special officers with regulars? ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to provide face-to-face mental health assessment when clinically indicated; Inadequate mental health risk assessment.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Inadequate CAD operator competence in partial-name wildcard searches

Wider context from the report

“4. There was not a full understanding among the CAD operators of how to search with only part of a name e.g. CORDERO* as a wild card. This seems a significant omission in the understanding of those fulfilling that role. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Unavailability of mobile access to police computer systems for special police officers

Wider context from the report

“1. MPS special police officers are not issued with tablets as regular officers are, yet the three on duty who attended on Friday night / Saturday morning were given one of the police vans that is not equipped with an on board computer. This meant that they could not check details on police computer systems themselves. Instead, they had to radio for assistance. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Roll out 100 pool tablet devices for Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers across frontline policing.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In September 2018, the MPS committed to the purchase and issuing of one hundred tablet devices, to be used as pool devices for MSC officers. The allocation of tablets across the MPS has been designated according to budgetary and operational demands. The roll out of these devices was completed in November 2018 and they have now been evenly distributed within frontline policing across the footprint of the MPS. Data usage is currently being collated, with the intention of increasing the pool size in the future. It is to be highlighted that the use of a tablet in an operational situation may benefit officers, however this is a relatively recent addition and officers are expected to use their police radios where tablets are not available. We have addressed this issue with the officers directly.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 1 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Launch and operate a mental-health and wellbeing campaign providing training, awareness and support to officers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In general terms the MPS response to incidents involving people with mental illness has evolved significantly over the last few years and continues to do so. We are committed to continual training and partnership working which has been incorporated into the annual officer safety training programme for all officers, including MSC. MSC officers are provided with mental health training in their foundation course which includes awareness of signs, symptoms and legislation. The MPS has launched a mental health and wellbeing campaign, which includes training, awareness and support for all officers. MSC are also incorporated into the Home Office funded MIND Blue Light Champion Programme, whereby selected MSC officers, alongside regular officers, are trained as mental health champions.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Provide local learning addressing communication and active-listening failures involving Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers and the CAD operator.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• The second CAD operator’s (call despatch) mistake was not related to wild card searches either. His error was not to check Ms Cordero-Sanz’s name and its phonetic spelling with the officers at the scene. However it is acknowledged that CAD operators have numerous demands placed on them at any one time and are generally dealing with multiple calls. This was a failure of communication and active listening, and has been dealt with by way of local learning for the MSC officers and the second CAD operator.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 4 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review support for Metropolitan Special Constabulary practical learning.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. On their initial foundation course, all MSC officers receive training on how to deal with a missing person and are expected to be conversant with changes in legislation and policy. The MPS is satisfied that the level of training provided is sufficient for MSC officers. If a MSC officer, or indeed any police officer, is unsure of how to deal with an incident they should seek supervisory advice at the scene. In light of this incident, all MSC coordinators who are experienced police constables supporting the MSC, have been tasked to review the support of MSC practical learning.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue mental-health training and partnership working through annual officer safety training.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In general terms the MPS response to incidents involving people with mental illness has evolved significantly over the last few years and continues to do so. We are committed to continual training and partnership working which has been incorporated into the annual officer safety training programme for all officers, including MSC. MSC officers are provided with mental health training in their foundation course which includes awareness of signs, symptoms and legislation. The MPS has launched a mental health and wellbeing campaign, which includes training, awareness and support for all officers. MSC are also incorporated into the Home Office funded MIND Blue Light Champion Programme, whereby selected MSC officers, alongside regular officers, are trained as mental health champions.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Disseminate learning from the report and review training for Metropolitan Special Constabulary and regular officers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The MPS has supported the dissemination of the learning opportunities presented by your report and is reviewing training in the context of both the MSC and the regular service. The MPS identifies that an aspiration to patrol MSC officers with regular officers on a regular basis would be unachievable due to competing demands, as well as MSC availability. As a direct result of this incident, CE BCU has put processes in place to ensure that MSC officers are briefed and debriefed at the start and end of their tours of duty and have supervisory support throughout. Commander Muskett, the lead for frontline policing, has directed that this process be implemented across all other BCUs.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Recirculate Language Line access instructions and information about its benefits to Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Language Line can be accessed via police Airwave radios at any time and full instructions on how to access this service is readily available on the MPS intranet. Instructions on how to use this and its benefits have been recirculated to the MSC via the duty sheet messaging system. The failures identified within this matter of concern represent individual failings which have been addressed directly with the officers concerned.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing foundation training is considered sufficient for special officers handling missing-person incidents.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• The three police officers did not appear to have an in depth understanding of the misper process. On their initial foundation course, all MSC officers receive training on how to deal with a missing person and are expected to be conversant with changes in legislation and policy. The MPS is satisfied that the level of training provided is sufficient for MSC officers. If a MSC officer, or indeed any police officer, is unsure of how to deal with an incident they should seek supervisory advice at the scene. In light of this incident, all MSC coordinators who are experienced police constables supporting the MSC, have been tasked to review the support of MSC practical learning.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Wildcard searches could not have assisted in this case, and Merlin has limited wildcard-search functionality.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• Merlin has limited capacity to perform ‘wild card’ searches. It has no Boolean capability and cannot perform searches of terms within a certain distance of other terms; it is the system, and not the operators, that is limited in this way. More importantly, no wild card searches could have assisted in this case, since the CAD operator (call receipt) only had the first name to search on and therefore had no reason to contemplate a wild card search. The spelling was provided phonetically and the CAD operator could not have known that it was wrongly spelled. In any event, it would not have been reasonable to search for ‘Rosareo’ multiple times with every letter in turn replaced with an *.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 4 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Suggested scene-assessment actions will not be made mandatory because they may be impracticable or inappropriate in some circumstances.

Verbatim wording from the response

“It has been established that the MSC officers who attended the address were not provided with the full details of the call. The informants whom they spoke to did not indicate that Ms Cordero-Sanz was in immediate danger. However it is recognised that if they had obtained more information at the scene utilising Language Line they may have altered their risk assessment and seen her in person. Whilst the suggested considerations have merit, we would not seek to make them mandatory actions as they may not be appropriate or practicable in all circumstances. Had the MSC officers known Ms Cordero-Sanz was a high risk missing person, MPS policy would have required them to physically see her and ensure she was safe and of no danger to herself or others.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Police radios are considered sufficient when tablets are unavailable, so tablets are not required for every special officer.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In September 2018, the MPS committed to the purchase and issuing of one hundred tablet devices, to be used as pool devices for MSC officers. The allocation of tablets across the MPS has been designated according to budgetary and operational demands. The roll out of these devices was completed in November 2018 and they have now been evenly distributed within frontline policing across the footprint of the MPS. Data usage is currently being collated, with the intention of increasing the pool size in the future. It is to be highlighted that the use of a tablet in an operational situation may benefit officers, however this is a relatively recent addition and officers are expected to use their police radios where tablets are not available. We have addressed this issue with the officers directly.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 1 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Section 136 would not have assisted because it does not apply to people inside private dwellings.

Verbatim wording from the response

“S136 Mental Health Act would not have assisted the MSC officers in this particular situation because it does not apply to a person inside a private dwelling.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Implement an action plan through gold-group governance to address identified issues at CE BCU and across other borough command units.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 February 2019.
  2. 2

    Implement briefing, debriefing and supervisory-support processes for Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers across borough command units.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 February 2019.
  3. 3

    Train selected Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers as mental-health champions through the MIND Blue Light Champion Programme.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 February 2019.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Regularly pairing special officers with regular officers is unachievable because of competing demands and special-officer availability.

    Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement an action plan through gold-group governance to address identified issues at CE BCU and across other borough command units.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following the request, these matters were dealt with under a gold group governance structure, chaired by Commander Musker, to address and implement a plan of action both at CE BCU and across all other BCUs regarding the identified issues. The critical need to have effective ongoing supervision for MSC officers was recognised and implemented as part of the action plan. This process is influenced by learning from day to day operations and vulnerabilities highlighted from investigations including inquests.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 5 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement briefing, debriefing and supervisory-support processes for Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers across borough command units.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The MPS has supported the dissemination of the learning opportunities presented by your report and is reviewing training in the context of both the MSC and the regular service. The MPS identifies that an aspiration to patrol MSC officers with regular officers on a regular basis would be unachievable due to competing demands, as well as MSC availability. As a direct result of this incident, CE BCU has put processes in place to ensure that MSC officers are briefed and debriefed at the start and end of their tours of duty and have supervisory support throughout. Commander Muskett, the lead for frontline policing, has directed that this process be implemented across all other BCUs.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Train selected Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers as mental-health champions through the MIND Blue Light Champion Programme.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In general terms the MPS response to incidents involving people with mental illness has evolved significantly over the last few years and continues to do so. We are committed to continual training and partnership working which has been incorporated into the annual officer safety training programme for all officers, including MSC. MSC officers are provided with mental health training in their foundation course which includes awareness of signs, symptoms and legislation. The MPS has launched a mental health and wellbeing campaign, which includes training, awareness and support for all officers. MSC are also incorporated into the Home Office funded MIND Blue Light Champion Programme, whereby selected MSC officers, alongside regular officers, are trained as mental health champions.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Regularly pairing special officers with regular officers is unachievable because of competing demands and special-officer availability.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The MPS has supported the dissemination of the learning opportunities presented by your report and is reviewing training in the context of both the MSC and the regular service. The MPS identifies that an aspiration to patrol MSC officers with regular officers on a regular basis would be unachievable due to competing demands, as well as MSC availability. As a direct result of this incident, CE BCU has put processes in place to ensure that MSC officers are briefed and debriefed at the start and end of their tours of duty and have supervisory support throughout. Commander Muskett, the lead for frontline policing, has directed that this process be implemented across all other BCUs.”

Source location

2018-0307-Response-by-Metropolitan-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 17 February 2019

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026