Overview of the latest changes to APP.
APP is subject to review (either scheduled or triggered) in consultation with the relevant National Policing Business Area. All amendments go through a review process and further information is available from contactus@college.police.uk
More detailed changes to APP content may be recorded separately by the the APP team. If you require a copy of APP as it was on a particular date (for example, for an enquiry) please email contactcentre@college.police.uk. All requests must be approved by the relevant Policing Standards Manager.
Latest changes to APP
| Date | Category | Guidance | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engagement and communication | Police under investigation | 15/08/2025 - removed the word 'gender' from the section called 'criminal investigations'. |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Modern slavery | Partner agencies | Updated links to Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit (MSHTU) and NCA CEOP Command. |
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| Stop and search > Quick reference guides | Quick reference guide - supervisors | Under supervisor quick reference guide 'gender of search officer' has been changed to 'sex of search officer' |
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| Stop and search | Transparent | 'gender of search officer' changed to 'sex of search officer' under monitoring at supervisor level section Under community scrutiny section, examples of 'age, ethnicity, gender and social class' has been changed to 'age, ethnicity, sex and social class' Under supervisor quick reference guide 'gender of search officer' has been changed to 'sex of search officer' |
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| Roads policing | Management of incidents | Reference to ACPO (2010) Guidance/Practice Advice on the Movement of Abnormal Indivisible Loads removed and replaced with references to NPCC (2025) Abnormal Load Guidance, NPCC (2025) Abnormal Load Guidance - Appendices and National Highways Notification Aide Memoire - Appendices. |
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| Roads policing | Roads policing - Guidance overview | Removed NPCC (2016) Guide for the operational use of speed and red-light offence detection technology and replaced with NPCC (2025) Guidance on the Enforcement and Disposal of Speeding Offences. |
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| Engagement and communication | Media relations | Added line "Interim guidance on what information can be released about a suspect or defendant’s ethnicity and nationality came into effect on Tuesday 12 August." and a link to the interim guidance at the end of the introduction. |
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| Major investigation and public protection | Major investigation and public protection - Guidance overview | 'Forced marriage and honour based abuse' APP replaced with 'Honour'-based abuse APP (overview page, background advice not, advice note for first responders and advice note for investigators) |
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| Armed policing | Post-deployment | Under the heading 'Criteria for post-incident investigations' the following words in bold have been added:
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| Investigation | Working with victims and witnesses | Addition of the Victims Guide - support to give your evidence: 'special measures' - The Crown Prosecution Service to further information under Special Measures subsection. |