Page 12 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar 2020-flip_Neat
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Officer safety
The Federation has raised concerns about the number of officers being injured in incidents involving vehicles.
Force acting to tackle
officer assaults
he Force is considering including “It is critical that we get this training by John.
vehicle extraction techniques in officer right and I am pleased that the Force The ACC has agreed to ensure this
Tsafety training courses. appears to be listening to what we are happens in future.
The move comes after the Federation saying. Officer safety has to be of paramount “We welcome the ACC’s support on this
raised concerns about the number of officers importance.” and we are pleased he is driving forward
being injured in incidents involving vehicles. John was given an assurance that the progress on the way in which assaults are
The Force’s initial response had been to learning and development department handled,” says John, “Once we start to be
put together a video training guide but, would look into further options for notified of all assaults, we can then assess if
while a second training video is due out developing officer safety training ‘sooner the 10-point plan is working as it should and
soon, the Federation does not feel this type rather than later’ when he attended the put forward recommendations if we feel
of training is suitable and has called for a latest Force meeting on assaults on Tuesday improvements are required.
more hands-on approach. 14 January. “Mr Johnson, in line with the
“We don’t believe that these techniques The meeting was led by Assistant Chief Federation’s stance, has also stressed that
can be learned by watching a video,” says Constable Chris Johnson who, John the Force is looking for positive outcomes
John Williams, deputy chair of West explained, was keen to see improvement in with the CPS and the courts when officers
Midlands Police Federation, “It is far better the Force’s approach to assaults. are assaulted.”
for officers to see someone demonstrate As part of the Force’s 10-point plan on The Force is going to carry out analysis
the techniques and then try them out assaults, the Federation should be informed of officer assaults to identify any patterns
themselves while a trainer can assess what if an officer is assaulted so that it can offer and see if steps can be taken to prevent
they are doing and give them tips on how support. However, this is not always attacks and offer better support to officers
to improve what they are doing. happening, an issue raised at the meeting where required.
12 federation February/March 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids
