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Public Order Public Safety

Public order public safety — Authorised Professional Practice

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Summary

This section outlines the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) concerning public order and public safety. It includes guidance on legislation, planning, command structures, and deployment for public order policing. Key areas of focus include the legal frameworks that govern public order operations, the importance of community engagement, intelligence sharing, and the overall strategic planning necessary for effective public order management. The guidance also touches on special considerations for various events, such as protests and sporting events, and emphasizes adherence to professional standards.

Key principles

  • 1Understanding the legal framework surrounding public order and safety.
  • 2Importance of strategic planning and deployment in managing public events.
  • 3Community engagement and intelligence sharing are critical for success in public order policing.
  • 4Professional standards must be maintained at all times.

Defined terms

Public Order
The maintenance of peace and order in society, particularly in situations where large groups are assembled.
Public Safety
The welfare and protection of the general public.
NPCC
National Police Chiefs' Council, which issues information supporting the operationalisation of the APP.

Full guidance

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

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has issued the information and documents in this section that will support the operationalisation of this authorised professional practice (APP).

The advice and instructions contained within them are owned and created by the NPCC.

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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.