Avon and Somerset offers verification of lone officers
Avon and Somerset Constabulary has become the latest force to launch a verification process aimed at reassuring members of the public in the aftermath of the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
A statement published on the force website today (October 6) said: “We fully recognise the onus is on us as a police service to reassure people who have concerns about lone officers and the reason for their interaction with them.
“As such, all our officers will provide their name and collar number to anyone who asks and will call the control room on their police radio asking an operator to confirm their identity and location, putting their radio on loudspeaker so the member of the public can hear the response.
“As well as verbally confirming the officer’s identity, the control room operator will also send a reference number to the officer’s radio which the member of the public can visually check.
“All officers are equipped with body-worn video cameras and they will also make clear to people it is switched on and recording. Officers are unable to edit or wipe footage from these body-worn cameras.”
Similar schemes have already been announced by Police Scotland and Wiltshire Police.
