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Safeguarding

Public Order Public Safety — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

Forces must recognize that individuals attending public order public safety (POPS) events may require safeguarding. POPS commanders are advised to consider safeguarding needs of various individuals and groups during the planning for these events. Considerations may include the presence of children, adults at risk, and associated child protection issues, violence against women and girls, vulnerabilities due to drug or alcohol consumption, mental health support, missing persons protocols, and the provision of medical assistance or mental health first aiders. Specific roles for safeguarding officers should be defined for each operation, and necessary facilities such as toilets and washing areas provided. Additionally, during protests, children's safety must be a priority, especially in protest camps that may persist for extended periods.

Key principles

  • 1Identify safeguarding needs at POPS events.
  • 2Address child protection issues.
  • 3Consider vulnerable adults and mental health.
  • 4Ensure medical assistance availability.
  • 5Define roles for safeguarding officers.
  • 6Provide necessary facilities on-site.

Full guidance

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

Forces should understand that various individuals at a public order public safety (POPS) event or operation may require safeguarding. POPS commanders should consider the safeguarding needs of individuals and groups in planning for POPS events and operations.

Safeguarding considerations may include:

the presence of children at events and associated child protection issues * adults at risk and sexual assault considerations * violence against women and girls * vulnerability and safeguarding concerns because of alcohol and/or drug consumption * mental health * missing persons protocols * the provision of relevant medical assistance or mental health first aiders * the appointment of safeguarding officers with clearly defined roles in a POPS event or operation * the provision of toilet and washing facilities

Protest camps may be established during protests. Children and young people often accompany older relatives or friends at these camps. As protests may continue for extended periods of time, officers should liaise with health and education partners to consider the safety of the children and vulnerable individuals present at such locations.

While policing an event, police officers may have to deal with vulnerable persons exhibiting signs of mental ill health.

Specific guidance in relation to mental health can be found in the Mental health APP .

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.