Page 8 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

Campaign timeline

Tim Rogers, deputy secretary The Home Office announces a law and best practice regarding police
of West Midlands Police review of the law and pursuits’ was complete.
2016 2017
Federation and the Police guidance surrounding police Tim explained: “To get this disappointing
May Federation of England and October pursuits and response driving news just hours away from a key legislative
Wales (PFEW) lead on after the hard-fought milestone, which had already secured
response driving, tells delegates at the Federation campaign. cross-party support, is a bitter blow – and all
national Police Federation conference in Police minister Nick Hurd confirms the the more devastating. What are our
Bournemouth: “Emergency response drives review will involve the Federation, the members and fellow emergency response
and pursuits are still measured against the Department for Transport, the Department drivers to do in the meantime? How many
standard of the careful and competent of Health, the Attorney General’s Office and more lives could be ruined going through
driver. You know, the driver that doesn’t drive the IPCC, as well as the relevant national lengthy legal proceedings – ultimately
above the speed limit, through red traffic policing leads, representatives of the other criminalising officers for just doing their
lights, respond to incidents? emergency services and groups representing job?”
“In my Force, there are around 2,500 other road users.
immediate response incidents each week Federation members across
– that’s 2,500 occasions when police drivers Norfolk MP Sir Henry 2018 England and Wales were
put themselves at risk of prosecution as they Bellingham puts forward his encouraged to lobby their local
go about their duties serving the public of 2017 Private Members’ Bill in the April MPs to call on them to support
the West Midlands.” December House of Commons which the pursuits bill so it can make
He continues: “We are not being could lead to a change in the its way through Parliament.
alarmist, and I concede that prosecutions in law surrounding police drivers. The Federation campaign on the issue
context are few and far between. But spare a Sir Henry introduced his Emergency also led to Tim writing a blog for the
thought for Officer Few and Far Between Response Drivers (Protections) Ten-Minute national Federation website ahead of the
who is mendaciously pursued through the Rule Bill on 20 December, and won cross- planned second reading of the bill on 16
criminal court only to be acquitted one, two, party support. March which was then cancelled.
three or four years later and then told ‘you He wrote: “Current legislation leaves
were just doing your job’. police officers and other emergency service
“We are merely pointing out what our responders vulnerable. This is because there
members, chief officers, MPs and the public are no exemptions in the current legislation
need to know. There is a flaw in the system, that take into account the high level of
and a risk to our members - and the public.” specialised training officers are given. All are
“I am sure the public would expect police measured against the common standard of
officers to use their skills and a non-trained ‘competent and careful driver’.
professionalism to respond as quickly as According to the law, ‘dangerous driving’
possible to a call for assistance; they do not includes speeding, ignoring traffics signals,
expect us to be obstructed by legislation.” or overtaking dangerously. Officers can also
be held liable for causing others to drive
The Police Federation steps dangerously. Talk about trying to do your job
up its campaign for a change with one hand tied behind your back!”
2016 in the law to protect police And he added: “The bill is categorically
Autumn drivers following the not a charter for blue light drivers to act
presentation on the issue to irresponsibly. We would never endorse that.
the annual conference earlier in the year. We only seek to protect our officers and
other blue light responders who are
As part of the campaign for a following their training and exercising their
change in the law, Tim seeks professional judgment. They already do a
2017 the support of the National Sir Henry Bellingham. difficult job under stressful circumstances
February Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and they deserve our support and that of
lead for pursuits – who has An 11th hour delay with the the law.”
said he would only support a partial change 2018 new bill is described as a
in the law. ‘bitter disappointment’ and Tim gives no more than a
March ‘further extends the threat of ‘cautious welcome’ to news
The Police Federation of prosecution to our members’, 2018 that the Government is to
England and Wales writes to according to Tim. May consult on proposed changes
2017 all of its members to remind He spoke of his frustration on learning to the law in relation to
Summer them that ‘there are no legal the expected second reading of the trained pursuits drivers.
exemptions from the offences Emergency Response Drivers (Protections) Yet, while he said the announcement
of careless or dangerous driving’ for officers Bill due to be discussed in Parliament on was a step in the right direction, he voiced
responding to calls for help from the public. Friday 16 March had been stalled. The bill, concern over the amount of time it was
The letter was sent to more than which had been put forward by Sir Henry taking to reduce the threat of prosecution
120,000 Federation members across England Bellingham, won cross-party support when for officers in pursuit of dangerous threats.
and Wales and was intended to correct the it came before MPs before Christmas 2017. “This has been an issue we have been
assumption, also held by many members of But the Government has called a halt to campaigning on now for seven years, and
the public, that police officers can break the process until an ongoing review ‘into the although it is a positive step that the
traffic rules.

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