Information about the role of a tactical coxswain, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A tactical coxswain is a specialist operations position within the operational support sector of policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The role of the tactical coxswain is to conduct safe, effective and lawful marine policing operations, helming and navigating police vessels, exercising tactical command of onboard resources, executing high-risk maritime tactics and managing non-compliant, evasive, or hostile vessels and persons, in accordance with statutory regulations and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) guidance.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Operating in accordance with The Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 2023 and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Marine Guidance Note 518(M) Police Boat Codes, Amendment 3 (PBC 3) and Workboat Code Edition 3 - Annex 3 The Safety of Police Boats (SoPB), to ensure safety and legal compliance.
- Fulfilling all responsibilities of the police coxswain police professional profile.
- Helming the police vessel and exercising tactical command of onboard personnel during small craft and swimmer intervention tactics, including threat assessment, tactical positioning and communication with the police second crew, to assist in safely intercepting, securing, or rescuing individuals in the water.
- Helming the police vessel and exercising tactical command of onboard personnel when undertaking boarding of non-compliant vessels, to ensure safety during marine policing operations.
- Helming the police vessel and exercising tactical command of onboard personnel when executing high-risk tactics during tactical phase pursuit, positional dominance, ride-off and enforced stopping in accordance with national guidance, policy and procedure, to ensure effective marine policing operations.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We take ownership – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We collaborate – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We support and inspire – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We analyse critically – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training and qualifications should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Successful completion of the police coxswain qualification delivered by an NPCC-approved marine policing trainer.
- Hold an in-date Royal Yachting Association (RYA) advanced powerboat, coastal skipper or equivalent qualification.
- Hold an in-date RYA or equivalent International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) basic sea survival certificate.
- Hold an in-date marine VHF operator's certificate.
- Hold an in-date MCA approved first aid certificate.
- Hold a police-endorsed ML5 or ENG1 medical certificate.
- Hold an in-date public and personal safety training (PPST) qualification.
- Hold an in-date job-related fitness test (JRFT) to the level required for the role.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- Successful completion of the tactical coxswain qualification delivered by an NPCC-approved marine policing trainer.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence. CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Undertaking a minimum of eight hours of tactical coxswain CPD every 12 months in addition to the minimum of 20 hours police coxswain CPD.
- Ensuring that no period of marine policing inactivity exceeds six months (183 days).
- Complete all core training and learning as required by the force.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- maintaining currency of knowledge and understanding regarding changes to legislation, national policy and guidance applicable to marine policing
- maintaining currency of knowledge and understanding regarding new and innovative approaches to marine policing as identified by evidence-based policing research and problem-solving
- maintaining a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities and current good practice to tackle these to enable a proactive and preventative approach
- keeping up to date with guidance and good practice on health, safety and welfare
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