Last month, the Civil Nuclear Police Federation hosted a Post Incident Procedures (PIP) course at Griffin Park, delivered by the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA).
The course brought together officers from across the UK and beyond, including colleagues from the British Transport Police Federation, Ministry of Defence Police Federation, and Gibraltar Defence Police Federation. It was great to welcome everyone and to see a shared commitment to learning from experience and improving post-incident support for our members.
The training focused on what happens after a death or serious injury following police contact, a period that can shape an officer’s career, wellbeing, and confidence in policing. Delegates looked at the legal process, the emotional impact, and the role of Federation support in making sure fairness and welfare are in place from the start.
Why it’s important
Recent national events have shown how heavy the human cost of such incidents can be, not only for the public but for the officers involved.
In Manchester, the terrorist attack in Crumpsall led to the loss of two lives, including that of an innocent victim caught in the chaos. Behind the headlines were officers who will carry those moments for the rest of their lives. However justified the response, the emotional toll of knowing an innocent person died is something no training can prepare you for. That’s where strong post-incident support and genuine welfare care matter most.
The NX121 case, following the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba, showed just how quickly a post-incident process can turn into a criminal investigation. What began under PIP became a full criminal inquiry almost overnight, led by the IOPC. Even when actions are lawful and justified, as we all knew they were, the officer found themselves facing the most serious charge imaginable. The officer was charged with murder in September 2023, acquitted at trial in October 2024, and in April 2025, the IOPC directed a gross-misconduct hearing. It highlighted the imbalance that every firearms officer lives with; a split-second decision can lead to years of analysis, criticism, and doubt, as investigators and commentators search for fault in decisions made under extreme pressure.
The W80 case, almost a decade after the death of Jermaine Baker in December 2015, drove that reality home even further. Another IOPC-led process that began under PIP went through criminal investigation, appeals, and legal challenges over the definition of “reasonable belief”, all before finally ending in October 2025 with no case to answer. Ten years of uncertainty for a single moment’s decision. Both cases remind us that the process doesn’t just test procedure, it tests people.
Accountability Review is a step in the right direction
In late October 2025, the Home Secretary confirmed that the government will raise the legal test for assessing the use of force in police misconduct cases, bringing it back in line with the criminal standard. A public consultation will also look at whether the standard of proof for “unlawful killing” inquests should revert to the criminal threshold. These changes form part of the ongoing accountability review led by Timothy Godwin OBE QPM and Sir Adrian Fulford, and are due to take effect by spring 2026.
It’s a step in the right direction, a sign that the government recognises the pressure of split-second decisions made by officers in dangerous situations. But real trust in the system will only come when those changes are backed by consistent, fair investigations and a clear commitment to officer welfare throughout the process.
CNC’s evolving role
For the CNC, firearms and the protection of critical national infrastructure are only part of the job. Our officers also play a key role in the UK’s Strategic Armed Policing Reserve (SAPR), standing ready to support the country under the Government’s Operation TEMPERER plan.
As the CNC grows, so does the range of work expected of us. We have taken on armed protection at four non-nuclear sites (from April 2025) and successfully delivered the Home Office vessel-protection pilot on cross-Channel ferries in 2024. We’ve now been asked to conduct the next stage of the Vessel Protection Detachment programme. CNC officers also regularly support national operations and major events alongside Home Office forces, showing the trust and professionalism our officers bring wherever they’re deployed.
But with that wider role comes greater exposure to risk. The more environments we work in, the more likely it is we’ll face situations that could lead to post-incident procedures, whether that’s a firearms deployment, a serious collision, or a death following contact with a vulnerable person.
National data continues to show that pursuit-related incidents remain one of the leading causes of deaths following police contact. The CNC doesn’t have pursuit capability, but that doesn’t mean we’re free from scrutiny. Officers can still become involved in road-related or fast-moving incidents while supporting partner forces. It’s a reminder that PIP isn’t just about firearms; it applies to any situation where police contact ends in tragedy and the need for fairness, transparency, and care for everyone involved.
Learning from the experts
The PFOA brought real experience to the table, not just theory, but lessons learned from supporting officers through some of the most challenging moments of their careers. Their approach was open and honest. They didn’t hide the reality of post-incident life and shared stories of officers who’ve lived it: the sleepless nights, the waiting, and the uncertainty. But they also showed how, with the right support and structure, a Federation rep can make a real difference.
The discussions were frank and sometimes uncomfortable, but that’s what made the course valuable. It gave our Reps the skills to handle the human side of a critical incident, not just the paperwork that follows.
A big thank-you to the PFOA for delivering training that struck the right balance between professional insight and empathy, and to every officer who took part for being open and engaged throughout.
Beyond the procedure
We need to be honest about this. When it comes to post-incident procedures, are the CNCs really ready to properly support officers once the immediate process is over? The structures are there for the first 48 hours - the accounts, the procedures and the legal framework - but are they robust enough, and are they being properly exercised and tested?
Training has been given to Post Incident Managers, but how often are those skills reinforced, practised, or used in realistic situations? And when the formal stage ends, what happens next? Is there enough welfare support, and are the proper functions in place to look after officers in the weeks and months that follow?
Because the reality is, the incident might be over, but the aftershocks aren’t. That’s when the isolation sets in, and people start to replay every decision in their heads. If welfare is to mean anything, it has to extend beyond the paperwork; it has to last as long as the impact does.
That’s why the Federation and charities like the PFOA are so important. They’re the ones who stay with officers long after the formal process ends, offering guidance and a listening ear when things are quiet but far from settled. But ultimately, the force has a duty of care to its officers, and the responsibility for welfare lies first and foremost with the CNC.
This isn’t about policy; it’s about people. Until that ongoing welfare is built into the system, it will fall to the Federation to make sure no one is left to carry that weight alone.