Page 22 - Federation magazine: April / May 2017

Growing number of assaults
impacts on of?cer sickness

More than 770 West Midlands Police And this is where the Federation is keen which is calling for tougher sentencing of
officers were assaulted while on to ensure that officers receive proper those convicted of assaulting police and
duty last year, with some of those support, through line managers and emergency service workers.
officers being forced to take sick leave as supervisors but also through Federation l If you have been the victim of an assault
they recovered from their injuries. workplace representatives and its office
based officials and staff. West Midlands while on duty and feel you need support
The impact of these on sickness levels Police Federation is also supporting the please contact your Federation
– and the knock-on effect of this on other national Protect The Protectors campaign representative or the Federation office.
officers’ workloads - has been one of the
drivers for West Midlands Police Federation’s 1A0ssPaouilnttoPnlaPnolice Employees
campaign on officer assaults.
21 howtTtoceAhfrhiobietetsgenvmhasihrieaetaoptesouseuoasdswlnsfetsaf,asssntiubcsihomoleautesnnresteaisdcpctmyaaoooonobupuonldfelialdtfcodci.cieacfntobTtreaoeyomehrpfnnitfc/smpoioatcirshsiuleoottleearrntpmshdforrefeeeiatmaimnsrnnatpttpoedepool.famopfpnTqseyrsobhuoneaeleeepcenictsrer.ioetainsmai.stoastesutnesagass,uorfatwfinlutntshyleahotioscvnonhfeyouatrncllhedobmeovuebfeeilfnedltimchvaiueeenbnnrsvdesOtderiaeegIsCovnratmfeidtfgniotiaoshnrtttneeaeatahfdkptfnehiunwcdebiganitclntisvhahctebes.atseeTthitmehiraegmuinpasssdaetahsi/nrmoeoottudinsraenoflicidrntraosytrmoe,
“Clearly we are concerned about officers 3 tTThhheeeEDamsMspaMlouylcteheias’sitroSiusbpteoerrevaniisssoeurdreisatsahwaatadreiseac.rulysswioenlfaproeinstupapt othrteisnepxutt
being assaulted in the first place,” says Tom available local DMM.
Cuddeford, interim chairman of West in place and confirm that
Midlands Police Federation, “We have seen a
rise in the attacks on officers and also the 4 mwpsCueioutrpslhsleteoinrranveg2’iscsu4oiseoguhsnnpor.ieuseTrrecvshot.iishsvToeeharrelpssbohoeetomhetutenpleldtlproiascyaloetneonedftfamaemvccaototysitrdheoplefloqamtnuyhgiaedc-skotienlwsyrcomniiodfntetnhhneaetegs.iyamittripeivsacepeccrtivaooecnntstiethchqaeeul rmteiogn,hcdbetouswt.soTseu,hlfppeareraerefsvesaisranoaudrblstlyed
severity of the injuries they have received. 5 hwbCsAsRaTtweePhTrutthlTehdcohelohahpiehpalenakalroeelpieurgDgstcansoteessseeuoiMslrmsuaeCmlpshtopeEupeAuMocertwepnmnleebohSustrtl.rlslssSaovlatpaitvduachriyhtoltrisgrgoieseienecnvoeneeoymoepoergesepran,tot.mmeoptrotfmfrTdoeooitplpduhbeoilurpcarmlteelsfeoasohaefrttnteySuoiyheplcneolentevsoretgnaaafedtiinhsfdasfssi.eitbspenfsstuecorueaeiaAesrcttcrmuuehoarsrceoasslelelmottnontiotdashsmtPordhpcenriearofinaledpdadetelastusilottgtetcespiitiheaphtoeorhtotysrioeeennhoeSdlnylodnsiueiroc’lLcfoteanrsebtfoewvsuhrnoyctcsiseogdehcretatctfiioheeallmhfoftof.fyfiraCtgercnfaesheroetnwsdeeshcpermiuveasaoeisoceplelmurrlulrrPeretptbinci.saomhrtpbhetinvyloeaoeiii.idctennfsirerIenffotsafeTf,gmfolreFctaeahjaefaabteucnfeendmlrmtisdocdoseetpenbuitrtimsrcrsoaghegoeetipreihrvewsnisliotsinaooftdy.ihnosotsyuseTohusretoshbuamera,elrieeluymdwsdeiTlsdiancthtd.rniannoacte,ionsiooddtsrotieutdhesfnWbilieaoapedsUenvucMldrnhaddualv.diaiPrscaoltTosavthltnhwuiepebhceidaplaseielbebal,ldltee,
6
“We are not talking about officers 7
getting caught up in the middle of a fracas
we are seeing sustained and deliberate 8
attacks on our members as they go about
their duties serving their communities. 9 aosTsaonntVuTohnafeotimfeocfdceiftcuao.dVeimectmmCtsicrhiciomo’tgetispomemihemoesvftepsrepuesnll.tCfflyoaliao-oyionwnitsdnlaugructselniooc,twsdtancatmeeieptantnarshpetdsiseselnttfitmtathueaaanbeslektldleapnitVnomosrttigoisfhccaestetsalniehehlmc‘vtceopvciupoudoiCkctruleieotoidnonnyidvtmbttnseifidea,oastmectofluahdtntensspeheeas.dretedAnobrdtsveesaahsemsikane.g’tedrphfreeeoeltwpvofrsaoiiyuhndafrelotgeseteees,n’trtasvcchotuaeepehrlsaotemeessiisssnmeouaitsvnnpsueeotvllnnpofetbttosyvsefelticoieoieocpgnwreuraupeplotpbdrsiofndeoefblfgaisinceocetteterecmeherudosdeati,f.moiaddforiseipcnssseociatnrusausisfhnlfsat.aginnAsdtgne
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“Our primary concern is our members’
safety but we also have to look at the wider
picture. Even if an officer is only off duty for a
few hours while their injuries are tended to
they are away from their role and that has
an effect on the people they are working
with and the public we serve.

“Coupled with the effects of their
physical injuries, there is also the
psychological and mental impact of being
the victim of an assault and that can also
make it difficult for them to return to work.”

Last year, due to concerns about the rise
in attacks on officers, West Midlands Police
Federation worked with the Force to launch
a 10-point plan which sets out how officers
and staff who are victims of assaults should
be treated.

First and foremost, the plan says that
officers and staff should be treated with the
same care and compassion as any other
victim of an assault.

But it also states:
Colleagues recover better and more quickly
if they receive the right welfare and
supervision. This also helps to avoid
long-term negative consequences. The
assaulted person’s supervisor should
contact them as soon as it is practical to do
so, preferably within 24 hours. The employee
may play down the impact on them, but
supervisors must recognise the potential
effects of the incident.

22 federation April/May 2017 www.westmidspolfed.com