Improvements to Police Integrated Tactical Training announced

Police has today announced changes that will see officers receive enhanced tactical training that better matches their role and will improve staff and public safety.

National Manager Operations, Superintendent Barry Taylor, says changes to current Police Integrated Tactical Training (or PITT), to be rolled out over the next 16 months, will see the introduction of a three-tiered tactical response structure.

“While the current PITT training structure is working well, it cannot deliver all that we need it to into the future, especially if we are to ensure that all constabulary staff are deployable and trained to a consistently high level that best matches the day-to-day demands of their role,” he says.

As of 1 July next year, the revised structure will see staff receive enhanced tactical training as either level one, two or three responders, with level one representing those who will respond to high risk and urgent situations that may necessitate access to Taser and firearms, while level two and three responders will deal with the remainder of incidents that are lower risk and make up the vast majority of Police interactions.

“These changes are about reinvesting our training resources more effectively into the people that need it the most,” Mr Taylor says. “For example, it doesn’t make sense that an officer in a support role, who is highly unlikely to come across a violent or potentially dangerous offender, needs Taser and firearms training. But at the other end of the scale, where we have a frontline officer who is far more likely to encounter potentially high risk situations, it is appropriate they receive the enhanced training.

“With these changes, we expect that our service levels will improve further as those staff who most often respond to critical incidents will receive more targeted and relevant training that better matches their role and responsibilities.”

The level of response training staff receive will be based on careful assessment of their role and its risks by their district management team, and will principally affect those staff who receive Taser and firearms training. The enhancements will be delivered within existing training budgets.

All Police staff will still receive training in important tactical techniques such as baton, handcuffs, OC spray and defensive tactics, which are effective in resolving the vast majority of situations encountered.

“The reality is that the vast majority of Police interactions are resolved without incident. This is supported by analysis of our use of force data, which shows that situations requiring the deployment of tactical options such as Taser or firearms represent only a small percentage of these interactions. Accordingly, the new structure continues to focus strongly on de-escalation through good communication and sound decision-making skills,” Mr Taylor says.