Page 12 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2018flip_Neat

Protect the Protectors

Assaults bill Mike brings

home reality
takes step closer of officer

to becoming law assaults

ew legislation giving better carry a maximum sentence of 24 months in
protection from assaults to police and prison. This proposal was not accepted, with
Nother emergency service workers has the Government maintaining its original
sailed through its third reading in the House proposal of a 12-month maximum sentence
of Lords. for this new offence.
Labour MP Chris Bryant’s Assaults on As it stands, however, magistrates are
Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill now just unable to impose this increased tariff as their
needs Royal Assent before being enacted. sentencing powers are limited to six months.
“We are pleased to see this bill passing To change that, the Government would need
through this latest stage in its progress to to enact a piece of legislation which has been Facilitator Ian Collins (left) interviews Mike
becoming law,” says Steve Grange, secretary sitting dormant on the statute books since Bruce.
of West Midlands Police Federation. 2003. If that does not happen, the 12-month A West Midlands officer who endured
“We have been very active supporters of maximum would only be available for those injections, medication and ‘six months of
the Protect the Protectors campaign sentenced at a crown court. worry’ after being spat upon by an assailant
launched by the Police Federation of England Calum Macleod, Federation national chair was among those to highlight what officers
and Wales in response to the alarming at the time, said: “Now more than ever it is are subjected to when they are assaulted on
number of assaults on police officers. We essential that magistrates take the issue of duty.
have lobbied MPs, taken assaulted officers assaults more seriously and don’t let the side West Midlands Police Federation was a
down to Parliament to discuss the physical down. All too often I speak with officers keen supporter of the Police Federation of
and mental impact of being attacked and whose attackers have faced little or no England and Wales’ nationwide Protect the
promoted the campaign as much as we consequences for their actions. This is totally Protectors campaign, which called for better
possibly could. unacceptable – the justice system needs to protection for officers in terms of tougher
“Thankfully, MPs and members of the support those who risk their lives to enforce sentencing and adequate protective
House of Lords, led by Halifax Labour Holly the law. equipment including spit guards, and
Lynch, who first championed the campaign, “Magistrates do not have 12 months arranged for PC Mike Bruce to address last
Mr Bryant and Baroness Donaghy who sentencing powers, therefore six months is year’s annual Federation conference in
sponsored the bill in the Lords, have got the maximum we can expect at the moment. Birmingham.
behind us. We need to end the practice of offenders Mike joined facilitator Ian Collins and
“No-one should come to work expecting being under-charged and prosecuted for less Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax and an early
to be assaulted but our members have serious offences. supporter of the assaults campaign, on a
almost come to accept that these attacks are “We will continue our campaign to better conference panel session and told delegates
just part of the job. That cannot be allowed to Protect the Protectors and pursue tougher he had ‘spit dripping off his face’ after an
continue. We – and our emergency service sentences, improved welfare and support for incident outside a pub in Holbrook, Coventry
colleagues - need better protection in law and those who risk so much every day. in April 2016. His colleague, PC Alan O’Shea,
this bill goes some way to providing that. The Assurances have previously been given by had blood spat in his face when he came to
Federation’s campaign will continue, however, the Government in the House of Commons help.
as we want to see even tougher sentences that the degrading act of spitting, which is It was the start of a long process of tests
introduced and clearer guidelines on spitting.” already considered a common assault, be to make sure that neither officer had
The bill proposes to make assault or made clearer to the authorities. Minister for contracted HIV or Hepatitis B or C and also
sexual assault against emergency service justice Rory Stewart said this will be made led to PC Bruce’s two children, aged one and
workers an aggravating factor punishable by more specific and that the Crown Prosecution nine at the time, requiring blood tests too.
up to 12 months in prison. It also gives police Service (CPS) is clearly instructed. None of that worry would have had to
added protection from have been endured had legislation been in
sexual assault. place to make the arrested man take a blood
However, the test to see if he had any of the diseases that
Federation still does not could be contracted.
feel the sentences it lays It was also one of a number of cases that
down are tough enough. led West Midlands Police Federation to
It had been lobbying for campaign for spit guards to be issued to
an assault on an front-line officers, with the Force agreeing to
emergency worker to issue them not long after the conference.

12 federation August/September 2018 www.polfed.org/westmids