Partner agencies
Roads policing — Authorised Professional Practice
Summary
This section outlines the involvement of partner agencies in road incidents and the use of their specialist equipment. It emphasizes the importance of negotiating formal partnership strategies and maintaining joint monitoring for effective incident management. The police retain primacy in cases involving injury, death, criminality, and public safety threats. Forces should carry a minimum level of equipment suited to potential risks. The section also lists several relevant partner agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Health and Safety Executive, and National Highways, alongside their roles and responsibilities regarding road policing and incident management.
Key principles
- 1Engagement of partner agencies in road incidents is essential.
- 2The police maintain primacy in incidents involving injury, death, and criminality.
- 3Formal partnerships must be negotiated and updated regularly.
- 4Each police force should identify necessary equipment for incident response.
- 5Collaboration with agencies like Health and Safety Executive is crucial for certain investigations.
Defined terms
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Holds data on drivers and vehicles for the UK.
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
- Promotes safe driving for life.
- Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
- Investigates police-related road deaths and serious injuries.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Becomes involved in road death investigations when necessary.
- National Highways
- Responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving the strategic road network in England.
- Traffic Commissioners
- Responsible for licensing and regulating operators of large goods vehicles.
This is a brief, factual summary. The full APP guidance — including operational detail, statutory references and case studies — lives on the College of Policing website. APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice.
Read the full APP guidanceSource: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.