Page 13 - Federation magazine: October / November 2016

Federation pushing for
better protection for
police drivers
The Police Federation is stepping up its
campaign for a change in the law to
protect police drivers.
The campaign is being headed up by
Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West
Midlands Police Federation and the Police
Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)
lead on police pursuits, who gave an
impactive presentation on the current risks
faced by police drivers at this year’s national the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright who
Federation conference.
Under existing legislation police
response or pursuit drivers can find
themselves being convicted, fined, banned
or even sacked just for doing their duty.
Tim told conference: “Emergency
response drives and pursuits are still
measured against the standard of the
careful and competent driver. You know, the
driver that doesn’t drive above the speed
limit, through red traffic lights, respond to
incidents?
“In my Force, there are around 2,500
immediate response incidents each week
– that’s 2,500 occasions when police drivers
put themselves at risk of prosecution as
they go about their duties serving the
public of the West Midlands.”
Since conference, Tim has spoken at the
AIRSO Blue Light Users Conference and has
found support for this campaign from the
fire, ambulance, mountain rescue services
and others.
Members of a Federation Parliamentary
Group will also be discussing the issue with
MPs they meet during the political party
conferences over the coming weeks.
But the next step will involve the Federation
emailing all police drivers to warn them of
the risks they face.
This is the latest stage in a campaign
which gathered momentum in 2012 when
the Crown Prosecution Service, on the back
of the Federation’s lobbying, created Crown
Prosecutors’ Guidance on the issue which
meant a special ACPO panel offered expert
guidance on cases where prosecution of
police drivers was being considered.
But in January 2016, barrister Mark
Aldred, a former police officer, gave a
www.westmidspolfed.com
presentation at the national Federation Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West
Roads Policing Conference that focused on a Midlands Police Federation.
glitch in the current legislation.
He went into detail about the January 2017.”
implications including the fact that, if there A meeting between the then policing
is the political will, there is a very real chance minister, Mike Penning, and Tim was
of an officer being prosecuted for engaging scheduled for June but the MP cancelled.
in a pursuit or response drive. But national Federation chairman Steve
In April this year, Tim and Mark met with White has written to the new policing
minister Brandon Lewis having met and
was very supportive of the Federation’s discussed this issue with him.
proposal for a change to the current The change of wording being proposed is
legislation and gave them the as follows:
encouragement to continue with this work. “When a vehicle is being used for fire
Tim explained: “He gave some good brigade, ambulance, bomb or explosive
advice and as a result, the aim is to have our disposal, national blood service, rescue or
position heard at Parliament in January police purposes, or for a purpose connected
2017.” with the National Crime Agency the driver
Ahead of the annual Federation may depart from the standard of the careful
conference in Bournemouth in May, Tim and and competent driver (or by his driving,
regional representative Jayne Willetts met cause another to do so) if and only if;
with Anthony Bangham, the National Police a) driving the vehicle in accordance with
Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) pursuits lead, and road traffic regulations would be likely to
invited him to be a part of the conference hinder the use of that vehicle for the
panel. purpose for which it is being used and;
But Tim added: “While he is mostly b) any such departure is a proportionate
on-board and supportive, we are slightly response to the circumstances as the
disappointed that he believes that any law responder reasonably believed them to be
change should only be for advanced driving, and;
not standard police response drives.” c) the driver has undergone or is engaged in,
Mr Bangham did sit on the conference specialist driver training in accordance with
panel, alongside Tim and Mark, however, the S19 of the RSA 2006.”
IPCC, which was invited to send a
representative, declined to take part.
The Federation is now seeking to win the
support of chief officers with Federation
officials being urged to open discussions
with their own chief constables.
“Contact will also be made with all
Federation representatives, with a particular
focus on pursuits, roads policing and
legislative leads. Then, the message will be
distributed to all members – this is to ensure
that all levels of officers are given ample
time to fully digest the impact of what this
means,” says Tim.
“Depending on the feedback and
information we get back, we will consider
letters to MPs. Our hope is to have a
Parliamentary bill debate and vote in
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