Driving Permits

1. What levels of driving permits are offered?
2. What do each of the driving permits allow the holder to do?
3. What training is required for each of the driving permits and how are the candidates assessed? How long in length are the courses for each of the respective driving permits?
4. Are any of the driving permits offered by your Force, offered in a modular basis, (i.e. are they offered in modules of 1 week at a time until the course is complete etc).
5. Which of the permits are available to Special Constables?
6. If any modular courses are offered, are the available to Special Constables?
7. How many Special Constables in your Force have driving permits which allow them to respond (i.e. use blue lights, sirens and allowed the holder to utilise the relevant exemptions afforded to them in law with respect of speeding, going through red lights etc)

In accordance with section 1 (1) (b) of the Act our response is provided below;

1) Driving permits are categorised into 3 grades; Basic, Standard and Advanced

2) Basic allows officers and staff to use the vehicles as a means of transport without using emergency response equipment and complying with all road signs and regulations. Standard level allows the use of low powered vehicles in an emergency response role using legal exemptions where appropriate. Advanced level permits the driving of high powered vehicles.

3) Courses are assessed by theory exam, instructor observations and driving tests. Basic Driving is in the form of an assessment of competence and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Standard Course lasts 3 Weeks, Advanced Course 5 Weeks

4) No

5) Basic Driving for categories of vehicles which trained.

6) N/A

7) N/A - Not allowed to be undertaken by Basic Drivers