Page 16 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar 2020-flip_Neat

Review underway

Progress in roads policing

but work to be done

he Federation’s national response lead Alan Jones pushing it forward with December 2017 Norfolk MP Sir Henry
driving lead says 2019 brought help from Craig Clifton, now a North Bellingham introduced his Emergency
Tsignificant progress in terms of Yorkshire Federation rep but then staff Response Drivers (Protections) Ten-Minute
securing appropriate legal protection for officer to the ACPO pursuits lead, the Rule Bill and won cross-party support.
police drivers but admits there is still current national Federation chair and The bill hit some snags along the way
plenty of work to be done to ensure roads former Hampshire Federation branch chair but in 2018 the Government launched a
policing meets modern day demands and John Apter and myself. It has to be said consultation on the proposed changes to
challenges. that at this stage, however, the focus was the law and by August that year I was
Tim Rogers, who is also deputy not on a change to the law but other confidently saying we were almost there
secretary of West Midlands Police solutions. although it was not until May 2019 that a
Federation, makes the comments in a blog 2007 R v Milton was a significant case ministerial statement was issued,
issued ahead of the Police Federation’s which confirmed no account whatsoever announcing plans to change the law to
annual national roads policing conference can be taken of a police driver’s specialist give police drivers better protection from
in Kenilworth on 28 and 29 January. skills and training. He was initially prosecution.
The conference will be attended by acquitted on the basis that his driver Now, with the General Election out of
Federation representatives from across training allowed him to do what he was the way, the Government has made a firm
England and Wales but Tim is particularly doing on the night in question. Of course, commitment to implement the new
pleased to have secured the attendance of on appeal, the law was then correctly legislation during this Parliamentary
National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) applied and he was convicted of dangerous calendar year as it was part of the Queen’s
portfolio leads from many of the areas driving. The judgement here helped frame Speech. I am grateful for the support
relevant to an ongoing Government review the solution we proposed in 2019, received from the Department for
of roads policing as well as a introducing the new test of a careful and Transport, the Home Office and Her
representative of the Home Office who will competent police trained driver. Majesty’s Government in making this
talk about the forthcoming response Two years later, the 2009 R v Craig significant progress.
driving legislative change, marking the Bannister case was a stark reminder of the While the success of this campaign
first time the Federation has achieved this issue at hand when Bannister was represents a major breakthrough for the
level of support. convicted of dangerous driving. There were Federation, I am equally pleased that our
Tim writes: 2019 was definitely a numerous other cases that focused the calls for a comprehensive review of roads
breakthrough year in terms of roads campaign including Holden and Houghton policing have also met with Government
policing. But, this only came as a result of et al these led to the introduction of the backing. The review has eight key strands
tireless Federation campaigning on behalf 2012 Crown Prosecutor’s Guidance. This and marks a huge step for roads policing
of its members, the hard-working officers was useful when applied but, with the and a massive opportunity to improve
who if not policing our roads were then Independent Police Complaints things since the Government seems to be
definitely using vehicles to police our Commission taking most killed or serious conceding the 10 years of cuts have
communities. injury (KSI) cases, the guidance was impacted on our ability to keep our roads
In 2019, after years of campaigning, we ignored, meaning the law was applied and safe. I am pleased that many of the
finally got a commitment from the leading to officers being prosecuted. national leads from the NPCC will be
Government to change legislation so that R v Lowe 2012- 2018 was a prime speaking at this year’s conference on these
police drivers’ expertise and training is example of the guidance being ignored key areas. You will also hear from the
recognised in law. Cross-party support for despite it fully supporting a decision not to Home Office regarding the new legislation.
a change to legislation means that we will charge. These decisions were the catalyst Should we now have a dedicated roads
no longer be judged against the careful to start the current campaign to have the policing force along the lines of the British
and competent driver that is the expected law changed as it became increasingly Transport Police?
standard of drivers. But then we don’t clear we needed a legislative remedy. I am also keen to ensure we look at
expect your average ‘careful and A new campaign was launched and officer safety in more detail. Too many
competent driver’ to be going through red gathered apace despite the fact that the officers are getting killed or seriously
lights, crossing the carriageway or then National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) injured by people prepared to use a vehicle
exceeding the speed limit to get to an lead for pursuits said he would only as a weapon. We are training people to the
emergency call. All too often police drivers support a partial change in the law, point that we stop the vehicle, tactical
have found themselves facing months, and prompting the Federation to warn its contact, boxing, tpac and so on but have
sometimes years, of legal and conduct members of the risk they could face since nothing by way of tactics for officers once
proceedings simply for doing their job. there were no legal exemptions for they are out of the vehicle. We need the
The Federation campaign got careless or dangerous driving. NPCC to mandate a consistent national
underway more than 12 years ago with the By October 2017, the Home Office had solution.
then national Federation roads policing ordered a review of the situation and in

16 federation February/March 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids