Police Now Assessment Policing Context, Ethics and Current Affairs Syllabus

What is a knife crime prevention order (KCPO)?

A civil order introduced by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 that imposes requirements and prohibitions on individuals at risk of carrying knives, aiming to steer them away from knife crime; breach is a criminal offence.

Define 'domestic abuse' under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Abusive behaviour between two people aged 16+ who are 'personally connected', where the behaviour is physical, sexual, violent or threatening, controlling or coercive, economic, psychological or emotional abuse. It need not be a single incident.

What does 'VAWG' stand for and what does it encompass?

Violence Against Women and Girls — an umbrella term covering crimes disproportionately affecting women and girls, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, rape, stalking, harassment, so-called 'honour'-based abuse, FGM and online abuse. It is a national policing priority.

What is 'coercive control' and which Act criminalised it?

A pattern of controlling, threatening or intimidating behaviour designed to make a person dependent or subordinate. It was made a specific offence by Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (in the context of intimate or family relationships).

What is the DASH risk assessment used for in domestic abuse?

DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment) is a structured risk-identification checklist officers use to assess the level of risk to a victim and decide on safeguarding, including referral of high-risk cases to a MARAC.

What is a MARAC?

A Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference — a regular meeting where agencies share information about the highest-risk domestic abuse victims and agree a coordinated safety plan to reduce the risk of serious harm or homicide.

Define 'county lines' drug dealing.

A model where organised crime groups use dedicated mobile phone 'lines' to supply drugs from urban hubs to smaller towns and rural areas, typically exploiting children and vulnerable adults to carry and sell drugs, often using coercion and violence.

What is 'cuckooing' in the context of county lines?

When drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person (e.g. someone with addiction, mental ill-health or a disability), using it as a base for storing or dealing drugs, often through intimidation, debt or exploitation.

What is the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)?

The UK framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking (including exploited children in county lines), referring them to support and a decision on whether they are a victim.

Distinguish 'cyber-dependent' from 'cyber-enabled' crime.

Cyber-dependent crimes can only be committed using computers/networks (e.g. hacking, malware, DDoS attacks). Cyber-enabled crimes are traditional crimes scaled up by technology (e.g. online fraud, harassment, child sexual exploitation).

What is 'phishing'?

A cyber-enabled fraud technique where offenders send deceptive messages (often emails or texts) impersonating trusted organisations to trick victims into revealing credentials, financial details or installing malware.

What is 'fraud' and why is it significant in current policing?

Fraud is dishonestly making a false representation, or abusing a position, to make a gain or cause loss. It is now the most commonly experienced crime in England and Wales, much of it cyber-enabled, reported largely via Action Fraud.

Define 'anti-social behaviour' (ASB) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Conduct causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to a person; or conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance in relation to housing; or conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person.

What is the 'Community Trigger' (ASB case review)?

A statutory mechanism under the 2014 Act allowing victims of persistent anti-social behaviour to demand a formal multi-agency review of their case once a local threshold (e.g. three reports) has been met, ensuring agencies act.

What is a Community Safety Partnership (CSP)?

A statutory partnership (under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998) of 'responsible authorities' — police, local authority, fire, health and probation — that work together to assess and tackle crime, disorder and ASB in a local area.

What is the Code of Ethics for policing in England and Wales?

A College of Policing document setting the principles and standards of professional behaviour expected of everyone in policing. The 2024 refreshed version centres on a duty of care, three values, and the Nine Policing Principles.

List the Nine Policing Principles underpinning the Code of Ethics.

Accountability, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Objectivity, Openness, Respect, and Selflessness. They are based on the Nolan Principles of public life (with the addition of fairness and respect).

What are the seven Nolan Principles of public life?

Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership — the standards expected of all holders of public office, which underpin the policing principles.

Why is diversity and representation in policing considered important?

A workforce that reflects the communities it serves improves legitimacy, trust, cultural understanding and consent, helps reduce bias, encourages reporting, and improves service to all groups. Underrepresentation can undermine confidence, especially among minority communities.

What does the Equality Act 2010 require of the police, and name some protected characteristics.

It places a Public Sector Equality Duty on forces to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. Protected characteristics include age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage/civil partnership, and pregnancy/maternity.

What is 'unconscious bias' and why does it matter in policing?

Automatic, unintentional associations and stereotypes that influence judgements and decisions without conscious awareness. In policing it can affect stop-and-search, use of force and recruitment, undermining fairness and legitimacy if unaddressed.

Define police 'discretion'.

The professional judgement officers exercise in deciding how to act within the law — for example whether to arrest, caution, or take no further action — based on the specific circumstances, proportionality and the public interest.

What is the National Decision Model (NDM)?

The College of Policing's decision-making framework with the Code of Ethics at its centre, surrounded by five stages: (1) gather information and intelligence; (2) assess threat/risk and develop a working strategy; (3) consider powers and policy; (4) identify options and contingencies; (5) take action and review.

What sits at the centre of the National Decision Model and why?

The Code of Ethics (the values and principles of policing). It is placed at the centre so that every decision, at every stage, is made with reference to ethical standards and the duty to act with integrity and fairness.

Name two high-profile failures that damaged public confidence in policing and prompted reform.

Examples include the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer (2021), the Stephen Lawrence case and the Macpherson Report's finding of institutional racism (1999), and the Baroness Casey Review (2023) into the Metropolitan Police. They highlighted issues of culture, vetting and trust.

What did the Macpherson Report (1999) conclude about the Metropolitan Police?

Following the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation, it concluded the force was 'institutionally racist' and made 70 recommendations, defining institutional racism as the collective failure to provide an appropriate, professional service because of colour, culture or ethnic origin.

What did the Baroness Casey Review (2023) find about the Metropolitan Police?

It found the force to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic, with failings in culture, leadership, vetting and standards, recommending major reform to rebuild public trust and consent.

What is 'safeguarding' in policing?

The process of protecting vulnerable people (children and adults at risk) from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation, ensuring their welfare, and taking proactive multi-agency action to keep them safe.

Define a 'vulnerable person' in the policing context.

Someone who, due to age, disability, mental or physical health, situation or circumstances, is at greater risk of harm, less able to protect themselves, or less able to safeguard their own interests — requiring additional support or protection.

What is a 'trauma-informed approach' in policing?

An approach that recognises the widespread impact of trauma on victims, witnesses and offenders, seeks to avoid re-traumatisation, and responds with empathy, safety, trust and choice — understanding that behaviour may be a response to past trauma.

What does the 'Make Every Contact Count'/multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) concept achieve?

A MASH co-locates agencies (police, social care, health, education) to share information quickly, jointly assess risk to vulnerable children and adults, and coordinate timely safeguarding responses — improving early identification and reducing harm.