Question
How do you risk assess a raid on a house?
Do you have a safeguarding policy which would lead you to check if a child is likely to be present?
How do you ensure children are not traumatized by it?
How do you protect them from mental and physical trauma which might arise from the raid?
Answer
How do you risk assess a search on a house?
Police searches are planned and conducted in accordance with Service Instruction SI1617 and Service Policy SP1316. These policy documents reflect Authorised Professional Practice laid out by the College of Policing.
Prior to carrying out search activity enquiries would be conducted on police systems to enable a consideration of both the premises and the likely occupants.
Do you have a safeguarding policy which would lead you to check if a child is likely to be present?
The PSNI's Child Protection Service Instruction SI3417 provides guidance on safeguarding children who come into contact with police.
The search SI 16/17 states:
- A community impact assessment will be completed for every search where a child, young person or vulnerable person is believed to be present;
and subsequently:
- When considering whether to progress operational activity, a balance should besought which takes Article 2 ECHR, Section 32 Police Act, Article 6 ECHR(fair trial), Article 8 ECHR (privacy) and Article 3 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (acting in the best interests of the child) into consideration.
How do you ensure children are not traumatized by it?
A PSNI Community impact assessment for planned policing activity would take into account various factors, particularly when children or young individuals might be present. These factors would be reflected in the search strategy.
The search service instruction makes clear all officers and staff involved in a search operation have an equal and shared responsibility to reduce community and individual impact.
How do you protect them from mental and physical trauma which might arise from the search?
The search service instruction makes clear all officers and staff involved in a search operation have an equal and shared responsibility to reduce community and individual impact.
In particular the search service instruction states:
- Where a child, young person or vulnerable person are believed to be on a premise which will be subject to search, consideration should be given to having Social Services on standby.
Taking cognizance of the Community Impact Assessment, there would also be occasions when a search is specifically timed to minimise the impact on children who could be present in a house, for example ensuring that the operation takes place during school hours.
Dr Kate Laverty