Page 7 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov2017 Final_Neat

Tim secures

review of law

on pursuits

he Home Office has announced a The recent spike in moped related crime officers risking their liberty and livelihood.
review of the law and guidance has been cited as a key factor for the review. The letter sent to Federation members in
Tsurrounding police pursuits and In the summer, the Federation, in a letter the summer stated: “A typical response or
response driving after a hard-fought signed by Tim, wrote to all its members pursuit drive is likely to involve the officer
campaign led by West Midlands Police reminding them that officers responding to contravening traffic signs and or speed
Federation’s deputy secretary Tim Rogers. emergency calls or engaging in pursuits limits. A course of driving involving
Tim is the Police Federation’s national could be prosecuted for driving offences just contravention of traffic signs and speed
pursuits driving lead and has tirelessly like any other motorist. limits is very likely to fall within the
lobbied for a change in the law to protect Current legislation means that definition of careless or dangerous driving.”
police drivers with his dogged regardless of their training and experience, It continued: “There are no legal
determination finally securing a review. officers are judged by the standards of the exemptions from the offences of careless or
He first delivered a presentation “careful and competent driver” who is dangerous driving for officers responding to
highlighting the risks drivers faced at the unlikely to go through a red light, cross the calls for help from the public.”
national Police Federation conference in wrong side of bollards and so on. This means Officers were advised that they should
2016 and at this year’s conference, held in those engaging in a response or pursuit are drive in a way which is lawful and does not
Birmingham, he gave an update and secured vulnerable to a prosecution charge of contravene the laws of dangerous or careless
a commitment from the National Police dangerous or careless driving. driving.
Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead in this area, West Speaking at the national Federation The Federation has been campaigning
Mercia Chief Constable Antony Bangham, to conference in May, Tim said the current law for a change in the law for the past seven
work with the Federation on the issue. was unsatisfactory and unworkable leaving years.
Police minister Nick Hurd has now
confirmed the review will involve the
Federation, the Department for Transport, We have been fully engaged with
the Department of Health, the Attorney
General’s Office and the IPCC, as well as the “ partners including the Home Office,
relevant national policing leads,
representatives of the other emergency College of Policing and national roads
services and groups representing other road
users. policing leads, as well as MPs, to push for
Tim explained: “Momentum has been
gathering in recent months and this marks a the change. There is light on the horizon
significant step in bringing about the
change we feel is necessary. and we won’t let up in our efforts to better
“We have been fully engaged with
partners including the Home Office, College protect our members in the face of the
of Policing and national roads policing leads,
as well as MPs, to push for the change. There dangerous role they perform to keep us
is light on the horizon and we won’t let up
in our efforts to better protect our members all safe.
in the face of the dangerous role they “
perform to keep us all safe.”

www.westmidspolfed.com federation October/November 2017 07