Dated: 02 Jun 2016
POLICY TITLE: National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS)
OWNING DIRECTORATE: Local Policing and Operations
AUTHOR: Chief Inspector, Tactical Operations
CONTACT DETAILS: 101
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Complete
AIM OF POLICY: To provide an outline of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme, which is an educational alternative to prosecution for certain road traffic offences. It also outlines information regarding offences committed by staff, both on-duty and off-duty.
BENEFIT OF POLICY: The policy provides clarity to staff regarding the Force approach to the use of the scheme.
REASON FOR POLICY: The scheme is aimed at improving driving standards through re-training in suitably identified cases as an alternative to prosecution.
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The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) is aimed at improving driving standards through re-training in suitably identified cases, as an alternative to prosecution.
It is a collective term for six diversionary schemes involving the referral of drivers for education as an alternative to prosecution / issue of fixed penalty notices, and comprises:
- National Driver Alertness Course (NDAC) - for those who have driven without due care and attention, usually resulting in their involvement in a collision. (Known as the Driver Improvement Scheme prior to 4th April 2011.)
- National RIDE (Rider Intervention Developing Experience) - aimed at motorcyclists who have ridden without due care and attention, usually resulting in their involvement in a collision.
- National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) - aimed at drivers and riders who have exceeded the speed limit up to the agreed threshold currently set at 10% + 2 through to 10% + 9 excluding 20mph zones.
- National Seat Belt Course - Your belt Your Life - for those offenders caught not wearing a seatbelt, where there is no exemption.
- What's Driving Us? Course - for those drivers where the evidence suggests by an act or omission their offending was intentional or deliberate.
- Driving 4 Change Course - addresses a lack of driving skill, lapses in concentration, error of judgement or a general mistake.
The training courses are built upon the premise that an improvement in driving skills, attitudes and behaviour will reduce the risk of a future blameworthy collision for the driver concerned. The schemes are administered by an external service provider (AA/DriveTech) and are funded from the fees charged to delegates.
Northumbria Police will participate in the NDORS to reinforce its commitment to improving road safety in the region through a partnership approach, and assist in addressing the strategic priorities contained in the Roads Policing Policy regarding promoting road safety and patrolling the roads.
The Fixed Penalty Unit is responsible for the administration of all driver referrals arising from the scheme.
The principles of NDORS will apply to Northumbria Police officers and staff as follows:
National Driver Alertness Course (NDAC)
i) On duty officers attending a high priority call or in a pursuit situation
If a file of evidence has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a decision as to whether the driver should be prosecuted and the CPS recommend proceedings which would normally attract the offer of a NDAC for members of the general public, the CPS will be invited to consider whether a NDAC would be appropriate. If the CPS consider that it is appropriate then the officer should be offered a NDAC and it is for them to decide to attend the course or to elect a court appearance. If the officer decides to attend a NDAC, they will be expected to meet the full costs of the NDAC and must undertake the course in their own time. Even after attendance at a NDAC, an internal assessment of the driver may still be carried out by the Force Driving School and refresher training provided, where a need is identified.
Force Driving School trainers will recommend to the driver's Area Commander or Head of Department whether the officer should remain suspended until such an assessment or training has been carried out. On some occasions it may be appropriate to reinstate driving authority but still require the officer to undertake refresher training.
Where it is evident that there has been a genuine momentary lapse of concentration on the part of the driver and that prosecution will not follow, there will be no automatic referral to the Force Driving School. However, such a referral may be made if the officer's Area Commander or Head of Department deems it to be an appropriate course of action.
ii) Police officers involved in a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) whilst on general patrol and police staff driving Force-owned vehicles
Where a police officer or a member of police staff is on duty and is driving in a general situation, (i.e. not attending a high priority call or similar at speed), and is involved in a RTC, there may be circumstances in which attendance at a NDAC is offered as an alternative to prosecution. Where such an offer is made and is accepted by the driver, they will be expected to meet the full costs of the NDAC and must undertake the course in their own time.
Where it is evident that there has been a genuine momentary lapse of concentration on the part of the driver and that prosecution will not follow, there will be no automatic referral to the Force Driving School. However, such a referral may be made if the officer's Area Commander or Head of Department deems it to be an appropriate course of action.
iii) Off duty police staff and police officers
Off-duty police staff and police officers will be treated in the same manner as a member of the general public. Following the commission of a driving offence, it is possible that a driver may be offered attendance at a NDAC. Where the offer of a NDAC has been made and accepted as an alternative to prosecution, the member of staff/officer must notify their Area Commander or Head of Department.
iv) Essential and casual users involved in a RTC whilst on duty and undertaking a journey for which a claim could be made, (this includes journeys for which the public transport rate applies)
Where a member of staff/officer is involved in an RTC whilst making a journey which would attract a claim of either essential or casual user allowance or public transport rate and is offered and accepts a NDAC as an alternative to prosecution, they will undertake the course at their own expense and in their own time.
Professional Standards will be involved in any investigation where appropriate.
Investigation of police collisions and reviews of driving authority will be considered as part of any decision making process.
National Speed Awareness Course
The National Speed Awareness Course will apply to all members of staff who are processed for speeding, subject to the threshold recommended by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
National RIDE/National Seat Belt Course - Your belt Your Life/What's Driving Us? Course/Driving 4 Change Course
These courses will apply to all members of staff who are processed for the relevant offence.
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SOURCE DOCUMENT: None
GROUPS AFFECTED: All staff
ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: None
