Scenario: The lone girl

Call from Police. Call from Police. Patrol response. Patrol response. Situation Poser. Situation Poser. Follow up. Follow up. Lessons learned Lessons learnedScenario

Call from Comms  At 02:00 Patrol was close to signing off when Comms called the I-car with two jobs in their patrol area:  Drunk male at major road junction.  Female youth leader from a camp had called Police because she was lost and could not find her way back to camp.  Patrol, who had clearly marked CPNZ car and was at junction, called Comms by cell-phone:  There was no drunk male present.  Patrol offer to go and find lost girl was accepted. Precise location of lost girl had originally been passed over the air, and was repeated on phone.

Call from Comms  Comms advised I-car of new arrangement, and gave them a new priority 1 task elsewhere.

Patrol response Approaching area where lost girl was supposed to be, a white Taxi was noted heading in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. Approaching area where lost girl was supposed to be, a white Taxi was noted heading in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. Patrol wondered if the girl might have called the taxi, but dismissed the idea as there would not have been time, and as she was not a local it was unlikely that she would have had the number. Patrol wondered if the girl might have called the taxi, but dismissed the idea as there would not have been time, and as she was not a local it was unlikely that she would have had the number.

Patrol response On arrival at the rendezvous point there was no sign of the girl. Patrol had a good look around, and now felt concerned. On arrival at the rendezvous point there was no sign of the girl. Patrol had a good look around, and now felt concerned.

Patrol response YOU are now in the situation in which the patrol found itself. YOU are now in the situation in which the patrol found itself. You have arrived at the RV point and find that the girl is not there. You have arrived at the RV point and find that the girl is not there. Based on the information you have been given, what are your next immediate actions? Based on the information you have been given, what are your next immediate actions?

Follow up The Patrol considered it most likely that Taxi had picked the girl up, having possibly heard radio calls on a scanner. The Patrol considered it most likely that Taxi had picked the girl up, having possibly heard radio calls on a scanner. The Patrol immediately set off to the holiday camp, whilst calling Comms. The Patrol immediately set off to the holiday camp, whilst calling Comms. The Patrol arrived at camp and found it very ‘full’, with many cars, but nobody actually up and about. The Patrol arrived at camp and found it very ‘full’, with many cars, but nobody actually up and about.

Follow up The Patrol decided to return to RV point, on the off chance that girl may still have been in that locality. The Patrol decided to return to RV point, on the off chance that girl may still have been in that locality. Driving out along the driveway leading to camp, the patrol noted a girl walking up the drive towards the camp. Driving out along the driveway leading to camp, the patrol noted a girl walking up the drive towards the camp. Patrol stopped and asked if she was ‘Sarah’. She was, to patrol’s great relief! Patrol stopped and asked if she was ‘Sarah’. She was, to patrol’s great relief!

Follow up She explained that Taxi had stopped and offered her a lift back, saying that the Taxi company had a ‘special arrangement’ with the Police in situations like this. She explained that Taxi had stopped and offered her a lift back, saying that the Taxi company had a ‘special arrangement’ with the Police in situations like this. The Taxi driver told her that the ‘Community Patrol’ was on the way, but he could not contact patrol as he did not have the phone number. (This tends to confirm that taxi driver had a scanner, as the girl’s location info was passed by radio to I-car). The Taxi driver told her that the ‘Community Patrol’ was on the way, but he could not contact patrol as he did not have the phone number. (This tends to confirm that taxi driver had a scanner, as the girl’s location info was passed by radio to I-car).

Follow up The Taxi did not deliver the girl to the camp, but dropped her off on the main road at the junction of the road leading to the camp, about 1 km. away. Taxi did not charge. The Taxi did not deliver the girl to the camp, but dropped her off on the main road at the junction of the road leading to the camp, about 1 km. away. Taxi did not charge. Patrol offered to take her to the camp, but as her campsite was only 200 m away, she declined. Patrol offered to take her to the camp, but as her campsite was only 200 m away, she declined.

Follow up The Patrol rang Comms to report that girl was safely back, and asked whether Comms had been aware that Taxi had picked her up. Comms did not know. The Patrol rang Comms to report that girl was safely back, and asked whether Comms had been aware that Taxi had picked her up. Comms did not know. A short time later Comms rang back to say that the Dispatcher had just spoken to the Taxi company, which reported that its taxi had been involved. A short time later Comms rang back to say that the Dispatcher had just spoken to the Taxi company, which reported that its taxi had been involved.

Follow up Patrol was very concerned about the Taxi’s involvement, and actions: Patrol was very concerned about the Taxi’s involvement, and actions: The Taxi driver had acted on information derived from a scanner(?), and would have known that a CPNZ patrol was on the way. The Taxi driver had acted on information derived from a scanner(?), and would have known that a CPNZ patrol was on the way. The Taxi driver did not call Comms to advise of the actions he was taking. The Taxi driver did not call Comms to advise of the actions he was taking. The Taxi driver did not deliver girl to her destination, but dropped her some distance away. The Taxi driver did not deliver girl to her destination, but dropped her some distance away.

Follow up The Patrol took these concerns up with Officer in Charge of the local Police Station. The Patrol took these concerns up with Officer in Charge of the local Police Station. It was found that Police had no such ‘arrangements’ with the local Taxi Company as claimed, and undertook to look into situation. It was found that Police had no such ‘arrangements’ with the local Taxi Company as claimed, and undertook to look into situation.

Lessons learned If the Patrol had not seen the Taxi (and therefore no doubt that the Taxi also saw the Patrol, and would know that he had been seen) there would not have been any ‘starting point’ for enquiries if anything had happened to the girl. If the Patrol had not seen the Taxi (and therefore no doubt that the Taxi also saw the Patrol, and would know that he had been seen) there would not have been any ‘starting point’ for enquiries if anything had happened to the girl. Observation and recording of details travelling to any event are often important. Observation and recording of details travelling to any event are often important.

It is vitally important that patrols, if they pick up female passengers, especially if the patrol members are male, that they advise Police Comms of the following before setting off with passenger(s): It is vitally important that patrols, if they pick up female passengers, especially if the patrol members are male, that they advise Police Comms of the following before setting off with passenger(s): Location and intended destination. Location and intended destination. Name(s) of passenger(s). Name(s) of passenger(s). Starting mileage. Starting mileage. Your safety is also important ! Your safety is also important ! Lessons learned

At the intended destination, the Patrol should again call Police Comms again to report At the intended destination, the Patrol should again call Police Comms again to report arrival at destination location, and arrival at destination location, and finish mileage. finish mileage. Sometimes consideration should be given to waiting for Police to arrive and for Police to complete the transport. Sometimes consideration should be given to waiting for Police to arrive and for Police to complete the transport. Lessons learned

THE END Scenario: The lone girl. (Originally developed by Waikenae Community Patrol)