At the end of this event you will have a clear understanding of:

• The basic working principals of English Law in relation to the use of physical force, including compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998, The Children's Act 1989, The European Convention on the Rights of the Child, Circular 10/98 Section 550A of the Education Act 1996 and various other Local Authority Circulars and Government Departmental Guidance including National Care Home Minimum Standards and Sir Herbert Lamming's document "Guidance on Permissible forms of Control in Children's Residential Care: LAC(93)13".

• The issues surrounding Restraint and Abuse drawing reference to the implications for Schedule One Offences, the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Children's Act 1989.

• The implications of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill and in particular the Power provided for Head Teachers of schools to search pupils for weapons.
  
• The current documented risk posed by Knives and other forms of Edged Weapons in the UK, including findings from the recent MORI Poll for the Youth Justice Board highlighting the amount of children who carry knives in our schools.

• To review the research on the risks associated with the use of physical intervention drawing reference from various Police Research & Government Departmental Guidance documents, including Local Authority Circulars, paying special attention to the risk of Postural Asphyxiation and how some well meaning 'therapeutic' techniques actually increase risk.

• What is meant by Non-Harmful Methods of Control & Restrictive Physical Intervention drawing reference to the research which shows what will and what will not reduce risk.

"All Local Authority Health & Safety Officers should attend this course"  -  Local Authority H&S Officer

"The HSE should make all Inspectors attend this type of training" -  HSE Inspector

"We have just adopted a Code of Practise but I wasn't aware how it may increase our liability. I wish I had known this first"  -  LEA member of staff

Mark Dawes D.S.T.T. Dip. N.F.P.S. MEWI

Mark Dawes is the Director and Founder of NFPS Ltd (The National Federation for Personal Safety). He is a National Coach Tutor and National Ratification Officer for the development, delivery, accreditation and ratification of all Occupational Intervention and Disengagement Physical Skills Training including Train the Trainer Development Programmes.

Mark has worked as a hostage negotiator and is a competent physical skills instructor with over twenty-eight years of experience.

In addition he is a member of the Expert Witness Institute, An Associate Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), a qualified Risk Assessor, a registered and qualified Stress Consultant (Registered in 1994) and a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

During his career he has delivered training to many diverse public and private sectors agencies including: NHS Hospital Trusts, Health Care Authorities, Social Services Departments, Charities, Colleges, Transport Companies, Courts, Security Companies, etc.

He has also been involved with various Crime Prevention Initiatives and has held the position of Chairman for the Hillingdon Crime Prevention Panel. Whilst with this panel he was involved with the development, construction and design of the 'Bash and Dash' personal safety training programme in association with the Metropolitan Police.

Mark has provided Expert Witness Testimony and reports for Court on the issues of Reasonable Force and was recently involved in a Manslaughter case and a personal injury case against a Local Authority.

Unlike many other of his contemporaries in this field, Mark combines his physical coaching expertise with his broad and in-depth knowledge of the legal and health and safety issues involved in this area as well as his knowledge of the personal physical and psychological aspects of the activity allowing him to present a balanced and well researched presentation that he will clarify and justify fully allowing you to leave with a better understanding of the subject and not so reliant on what others say.