Critical Incident Stress Debriefing in a County police force: Lessons learned for future practice

Abstract

Formal training in Psychological Debriefing (PD) was introduced into a County police service in the UK in 2002 in order to enhance the existing critical incident stress management programme. Prior to this, debriefing was carried out by a Welfare Officer or external psychologists were employed. Shortly after the introduction of the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) programme a major incident occurred that provided the opportunity to try out the previously untested method. This paper discusses the events that ensued following the tragic deaths of two police officers in the line of duty. By means of a semi-structured interview using the format of an After Action Review, the debriefers deployed following the incident produced a wealth of data that has informed the development of CISM with the particular police service. The lessons learned focus on current PD practice, the structure and selection process for the debriefings and the useful combination of paraprofessional debriefers with the support of trained mental health professionals.