Page 7 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

Campaign success

Pay and morale: Tim welcomes

have your say breakthrough on response

driving legislation

You would not expect them to have to use trained officers the confidence they need to
the skills of a professional police driver nor fight crime effectively and ensure our roads
have their driving experience. are safe.”
“Members of the public would expect Current laws do not recognise police
police officers to use their skill and training response drivers’ training and the tactics
to respond to calls for assistance and this they are taught to employ to respond to
change in the law will enable officers to do emergencies and pursue criminals.
that without fear of prosecution for simply Police drivers are instead held to the
doing their jobs. same standards as members of the public
“We now need the Government to be and have to rely on the discretion of the
bold, prioritise this issue, find Parliamentary IOPC and the Crown Prosecution Service
time and fulfil its promise to police officers (CPS) to avoid misconduct investigations
and the public.” and criminal prosecution.
Tim has also praised the Home Office, Any changes will make it clear that
the Department of Transport, the officers should not be held accountable for
Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) the driving of a suspected criminal
and a number of members of the National attempting to avoid arrest, providing the
Police Chiefs’ Council for their support. pursuit is justified and proportionate.
The Home Office wants to change the The move follows a public consultation
law to ensure that highly trained police which saw the overwhelming majority of
drivers, chasing suspected criminals on the respondents back the proposals.
Tim Rogers who has led the hard-fought roads and driving to the very high standard In summary, the changes will aim to:
campaign.
required by their training, are better l Introduce a new legal test so that an
he Home Office has issued a Written protected from the risk of lengthy officer’s driving is compared to that of a
Ministerial Statement announcing investigation and potential prosecution. competent and careful police driver with
Tplans to change the law to give police Home Secretary Sajid Javid will look to the same level of training performing
drivers better protection from prosecution. introduce a new legal test aimed at giving the same role, rather than a member of
Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West them greater confidence to pursue suspects, the public
Midlands Police Federation and the including those on mopeds. l Apply to all police officers trained to
Federation’s national response driving lead, He said: “It’s vital police officers feel response driver level as well as advance
has led the campaign for legislative change confident and protected when pursing driver level, therefore cover those
and welcomed the Home Office’s suspects on the roads or responding to an pursuing criminals and also emergency
announcement on 2 May. emergency. It’s also crucial that we send a police responders.
“We are pleased and reassured by this clear message that criminals – whether in The Government also wants to review
move. For far too long, police officers have cars or on mopeds - cannot escape arrest the various emergency service exemptions
faced conduct proceedings and criminal simply by driving recklessly. These proposed to traffic law to ensure they remain fit for
prosecution for simply doing their job; a changes will strike the right balance – giving purpose.
situation putting them, and their families, See the timeline of key dates in the
through stressful investigations and often campaign on Pages 8 and 9.
taking them away from their roles serving
their communities. It’s vital police officers feel confident
“It is clearly absurd that a trained police
and protected when pursuing suspects
driver is currently judged by the standards of “
the careful and competent member of the
public in terms of their driving. Members of on the roads or responding to an
the public are not asked to respond to
emergency and life-threatening situations. emergency. “

www.polfed.org/westmids federation June/July 2019 07