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Critical incident

A term from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP), reproduced under the Open Government Licence with a link back to the authoritative source.

All glossary terms

Definition

Any incident where the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community.

This definition is drawn from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice. For the full operational guidance and current wording, read it at source.

college.police.uk/app/civil-emergencies/civil-contingenciescollege.police.uk/app/critical-incident-management/introduction-and-types-critical-incidentscollege.police.uk/app/critical-incident-management/phase-2-managing-critical-incidentscollege.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/investigating-child-abuse-and-safeguarding-children/police-response-investigating-child-abuse/critical-incidents-and-community-impact-assessmentscollege.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/honour-based-abuse/advice-note-first-responderscollege.police.uk/app/media-and-communicationscollege.police.uk/app/public-order-public-safety/pops-incidents

Related terms

Community Impact Assessment

A review assessing the effects of police actions on the local community.

community impact assessments

Evaluations that assess the potential effects of police actions on a particular community.

Confidence

this is a reference to the long-term confidence of victims, families and communities in policing.

Criticality Factors

Specific elements that may increase the impact of an incident.

Digital desk

Social media moderation unit in a force contact centre.

Disinformation

Purposefully false content that was created with the intent to mislead, cause harm and deceive.

Definition reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0. See the source link above for the authoritative, current wording.