Better information for your journey
The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
Free Traffic Information Seminars
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Capability Assessment Toolkit 3
Introducing new and challenging indicators in the area of corporate social responsibility.
Efficiency Gains from Collaborative Roads Procurement
Delivering efficiency and best value is central
Joined Up Working
June 2008
Raising awareness of the Traffic Officer Service and the associated roles and responsibilities, whilst understanding other responders and their roles and responsibilities is critical to successful incident management.
Last month, the North East Traffic Officer Service contacted the Bulletin to inform us of a training scheme that had been completed in their region. During April and May 2008 a scene preservation presentation was delivered to their Traffic Officers by Humberside Police's Collision Investigation Unit.
The Bulletin has featured a number of initiatives that are currently taking place in different regions across the country, for example May's issue contained Awareness Training in the South East. This article will focus on the Humberside Police / Traffic Officer Service joint working.
Background to the presentation
The Traffic Officer Service's involvement and actions following a fatal incident on the North East's network, were praised by the attending Chief Superintendent from Humberside Police. As a result of this, a meeting was called between the two organisations with a view to strengthening and developing working relationships between on-road Police and Traffic Officers at incident scenes. 
As a result of this meeting, Garrick Sayles (picured right), Team Manager from the North East was introduced to the Road Policing Inspector and subsequently invited to attend a Senior Investigation Officers meeting. During this meeting, Garrick presented a number of joint-working initiative ideas.
One of the ideas was to share best practice regarding scene preservation. Traffic Officers are now frequently the first incident responder to arrive at a serious or fatal incident, in which scene preservation is an essential requirement for the Police. It is therefore important that the Traffic Officer Service has a good understanding of the recognised best practice in relation to scene preservation.
Scene preservation presentation
The presentation was conducted by Humberside Police who agreed to fund, resource and deliver a number of two hour collision investigation presentations to the North East region, which included both on-road and RCC staff. The presentation proved to be very beneficial in raising the awareness of those who are 'first responders' to an incident of the need to create a sterile inner cordon, preserve evidence whilst limiting disruption where possible, and assist with preventing practicable movement therein. Also essential is the need for Highways Agency and Police Commanders to work closely together on scene, and maintain achieving effective communication.
The Future
This is another good example of how best practice in relation to incident management is being shared amongst incident responders in addition to the ongoing collaborative working between the Traffic Officer Service and the Police.
The Bulletin is always keen to hear of initiatives similar to those that have been published or indeed different ones that are working well for you. The TIM team are aware that similar scene preservation training packages have been delivered in other regions. If there are any further details that you feel need to be documented through the TIM Bulletin, please e-mail: timbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk
