Public Order Tactical Advisor (POTAC)

This profile has recently been updated to include the CVF 2024 and core skills, and the new version can be found on College Learn by entering the Profile title in the search function. Please note this profile is out of date and is in the process of being reviewed.

The purpose of this role is for police officers who are expected to be deployed to such spontaneous or pre-planned public order /public safety events in the capacity of a Public Order Tactical Advisor (POTAC) at a strategic, tactical or operational level as a resource to enable an effective policing response that may include acting in a mutual aid capacity.

Although decision making rests with the respective commander, advisors’ are responsible for the provision of appropriate, valid and reasonable advice.

They will be trained as outlined within module F4 of the National Police Public Order Training Curriculum (NPPOTC).

• Provide advice, guidance and information in line with legislation and policy and at an appropriate level to the situation in support of the public order commanders’ aims and objectives.

• Provide up to date knowledge on public order legislation, national and regional policy and standards for operational practice to support command decision making.

• Provide timely, accurate and relevant advice to the public order commander on the available tactical considerations and options to support command decision making and the effective policing of pre-planned and spontaneous public events.

• Evaluate the tactical considerations / options to assist in achieving the public order commander’s aims and objectives and to address identified contingencies based on all relevant factors in accordance with legislation and policy.

• Provide advice on how to record decisions, actions, options and rationale in accordance with current policy and legislation to ensure there is an audit trail and to support law enforcement.

• Review emerging information and intelligence, including updated threat, risk and community impact assessments to ascertain the implications for the public order operation.

• Identify and agree with the public order commander the roles of the POTAC and others within the public order operation, liaising with key personnel and contributing to the planning and briefing processes as required, in order to achieve strategic, tactical and operational aims and objectives.

• Seek and obtain a briefing if the overall strategy has been set, including the aims, objectives and parameters in order to identify the context within which the public order commander can operate.

• Evaluate threat, risk and community impact assessments and their implications in order to identify how the public order situation may develop and the contingencies which may arise.

• Engage in and contribute to the public order debriefing process to ensure information is effectively transmitted and to contribute to organisational learning.

Prior Education and Experience:

• Multi Stage Fitness Test (MSFT) standard for PSU officers, which is the endurance standard test at level 6:3.

• Trained to Module 2 – First aid skills police (emergency first aider at work) of the College of Policing First Aid learning programme.

• Officer safety trained as per their individual force policy.

• Level 2 public order trained to the standards described in module B2 of the NPPOTC.

• Demonstrate experience of specialist Public Order tactics beyond the Level 2 standard.

• Successfully complete an assessed nationally approved training course for POTACs delivered at a licensed centre.

• Within a 12 month timeframe (within 365 days) from successful completion of the POTAC course including the assessed element, be assessed on an event where there was a risk to public safety, or the potential for disorder and complete a portfolio of work demonstrating the national occupational standard (CC702 – Prepare to provide advice for and provide advice to a public order commander).

Skills:

• Able to communicate clearly, adapting language, form and message to ensure understanding.

• Able to appropriately prioritise and plan own work and use resources effectively and efficiently.

• Able to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes.

• Able to identify potential opportunities to enhance efficiency and/or effectiveness within own area of work.

• Good team working skills demonstrating awareness of individual differences and providing support as required.

• Able to proactively develop effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.

• Comply with mandated annual refresher training requirements including but not limited to; First Aid and officer safety.

• Must undertake a module B2 training package on an annual basis (within 365 days) to maintain status as an accredited and trained level 2 public order officer.

• Must evidence their ongoing operational competence against the relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS) at least four times a year within a 12 month (within 365 days) period through advising at public order events to remain on the professional register.

• Attend the College of Policing mandatory public order command refresher training C7 event on an annual (within 365 days) basis (delivered locally).

• Keep up to date with changing public order legislation and how this may affect you in your role.

• Maintain knowledge of crowd dynamics and crowd psychology based on current guidance and best practice.

• Keep up to date with public order trends and learning as promulgated through the public order national learning and development group.

Successful demonstration of occupational and operational competence will lead to enrolment on the national public order accreditation register at the College of Policing.

NPoCC Mercury Profile – Public Order Tactical Advisor 13 v2