Levels of driver training standards within the MPS

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022415

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am writing to you with use of the Freedom of Information Act in connection to Driver Training Standards within the Metropolitan Police Service, could you please elaborate on any details held on the following;

A. Driver levels within the MPS (e.g Basic, Carrier, Solo, Response, Response - IPP, Advanced, Armed Response Vehicle Officer, etc, to my understanding a previous FoI was issued, however I understand there is multiple other levels such as TPAC and ARVO, if ALL driver levels could be listed and elaborated upon)

B. Official Met Policy on difference between Authorised Firearms Officers and Armed Response Vehicle Officers, standard of training and type of training applied to each.

C. Policy on Driver Training levels (who trains certain driver levels, e.g Response - IPP and who would train Advanced)

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

QA - Driver levels within the MPS (e.g Basic, Carrier, Solo, Response, Response - IPP, Advanced, Armed Response Vehicle Officer, etc, to my understanding a previous FoI was issued, however I understand there is multiple other levels such as TPAC and ARVO, if ALL driver levels could be listed and elaborated upon)

Basic, Response, Response Initial Phase Pursuit, Advance Non Pursuit, Advanced Initial Phase Pursuit, TPAC, 4x4, PSU, National Protection Driver, C1/D1 (Large Vehicles etc) and armoured and specialist vehicles (Jankel etc)

The vast majority of drivers within the MPS fall under the following categories:

Basic Driver – This is the minimum level of driving classification for MPS police drivers and the majority of Police Staff drivers. They are not permitted to undertake pursuits.

Response Driver - A Response driver has completed a response driving course and can undertake Initial phase pursuit. Drivers are authorised to drive vehicles both liveried and covert, with or without warning equipment. (With effect from Friday 1 June 2012, RESPONSE drivers in unmarked cars, including those fitted with warning equipment are prohibited from taking part in any stage of a pursuit).

Advanced Driver - A driver who has completed an advanced driving course. Drivers are authorised to drive high powered vehicles both liveried and covert, with or without warning equipment. They can undertake Initial phase pursuit in both marked and unmarked vehicles – in all cases an advanced trained driver will take precedence in a pursuit over Response Initial Phase driver whilst awaiting a T-PAC driver in a suitable vehicle.

QB - Official Met Policy on difference between Authorised Firearms Officers and Armed Response Vehicle Officers, standard of training and type of training applied to each.

AFO – Authorised Firearms Officer
Base level of entry for any firearms officer.
Course is normally five weeks, following which officers are trained to deliver armed protective security (often from a static post).

ARV – Armed Response Vehicle Officer
Intermediary level of AFO.
Course is eleven weeks, following which officer are trained to respond to spontaneous incidents involving firearms.

QC - Policy on Driver Training levels (who trains certain driver levels, e.g Response - IPP and who would train Advanced)

We have various levels of instructor and they are as follows:
All instructors are / and must be Advanced Drivers and we have instructors that deliver all driver levels.