Page 4 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2018-flip_Neat

Chair’s introduction

Taser – helping our

officers to protect

themselves and

their communities

remain part of the policing family and that to send out a very clear signal to others that
we stand shoulder to shoulder with them. this despicable behaviour will not be
For me, the service exemplifies why the tolerated.
police service has such a unique place in Sadly, in the last couple of weeks, a
society. Police officers face danger each and number of cases where in my opinion these
every day as they go about their duties offenders have received quite lenient
serving and protecting their communities sentences have hit the headlines, so I am not
and sometimes they pay the ultimate price feeling that reassured. Perhaps we should
when doing so. take some heart from the fact that the
But, as violence against police officers media, in covering these cases, seems equally
soars, I, for one, want to see more done to outraged at the sentencing.
protect them. We will continue to push for more
As you will read in this magazine, the protections to be put in place and the
Police Federation of England and Wales has Federation will use everything in its power to
achieved a success with its Protect the put pressure on the Government and the
Protectors campaign which was borne out of judicial system to do more to support police
concerns over the number of assaults on officers and our emergency service
police officers and other emergency service colleagues.
workers. Meanwhile, I am continuing to campaign
Sadly, officers – and I am sure ambulance for more officers to be issued with Taser.
service personnel, paramedics and other blue As I am sure you are aware, there have
light workers – were becoming accustomed been a number of serious assaults on West
By Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police to being attacked when they stepped into try Midlands officers in recent weeks.
Federation to help others. Figures have also just been released that
That could not be allowed to continue. It reveal almost 50 officers have been bitten by
s I write this, I have just returned is never acceptable for anyone to consider suspected offenders or dogs this year. The
from Belfast where I attended the being assaulted as part of their job. Force disclosed 35 of them had been bitten
Aannual National Police Memorial Day A new act – and we have to thank Labour by offenders with 11 of those requiring
service. MPs Holly Lynch and Chris Bryant and hospital treatment and one being given a
It is a sombre occasion, of course, Conservative Philip Davies and other hepatitis vaccine.
honouring as it does, our fallen colleagues. cross-party supporters including Eddie These figures should be seen as alarming.
The service is important, not just because it Hughes (Cons, Walsall North) for their But, I am sure, many officers are no longer
enables people from within the police determination to bring about a change in particularly shocked by them and some will
service and the Government, to come the law – does allow for tougher sentences carry permanent scars because someone has
together to honour their memory but also for those who attack emergency service taken a decision to sink their teeth into them.
because it shows their families that their workers. As it stands, less than a quarter (22 per
loved one’s sacrifice is not forgotten. However, we now need to see evidence cent) of our front-line officers have access to
I hope also that the service of the courts using these sentences not just Taser. We welcome the fact that the Force has
demonstrates to those families that they to punish the offenders before them but also agreed to a roll-out to more officers. But,

04 federation October/November 2018 www.polfed.org/westmids