Page 4 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2018flip_Neat

Chair’s introduction

It’s time for the

Government to

support policing

By Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police other less serious crimes, such as burglary, Constable to arm all our front-line
Federation suffer. But we all know these crimes can officers with Taser as a minimum, as soon
still have terrible consequences. as possible. A proposed uplift of 850 is
he last couple of months since I A local newspaper Freedom of taking place by next summer, and we will
took over as chair have been Information request I was asked to be pushing hard for this to continue so all
Tinteresting to say the least. We have comment on revealed less than four per of us can have that protection.
encountered the challenges presented by cent of burglaries committed in the first Following up on this, we’ve been very
skyrocketing demand from the public, six months of this year were solved. This is vocal on local radio and in printed and
with rising violent crime having a a source of major public concern, and I’ve social media highlighting the numerous
significant impact on our officers, some of no doubt it is of great concern to all cops incidents of assault, abuse and personal
whom have suffered nasty assaults. too. threat our officers are facing. I’ve spoken
England’s gallant foray into the World Cup But the reality is the loss of 25 per cent with many colleagues personally, offering
semi-finals and President Trump’s visit of our officers since 2010 has clearly had a my best wishes for their recovery,
with the associated disruption added to massive impact on the Force’s ability to physically and mentally, but we also need
the pressures we have faced and, to top it complete preventative patrols, to respond to ensure that, as a Force, we always be
all, there was a misleading pay and to conduct the kind of thorough seeking to prosecute to the fullest extent
announcement from the Government investigations we want to, before yet of the law criminals who offend in this
which yet again ignored the another ‘urgent’ call comes in. We now way. This hasn’t always happened, and
recommendations of the independent pay have similar levels of officers to those we the Federation is now at the forefront of
review body. had in 1974. It really is ‘Life on Mars’ all highlighting such cases internally to
I have called the violence we are seeing over again. make sure, with everything else going on,
on our streets an epidemic. That language That’s how far we’ve been cut back and we are not letting ourselves down.
is stark and emotive, but when you are when I speak to officers daily who have I was glad that Parliament sent a
dealing with people’s lives, I believe that’s been beaten, spat on or at or racially or powerful signal to police decision-makers
appropriate. We have seen well over 30 sexually abused trying to quell drunken and the Crown Prosecution Service in July
murders in the West Midlands so far this idiots, drug-fuelled yobs, domestic abusers by passing the Assaults on Emergency
year, crimes of exceptional brutality and and gangs of armed thugs using knives Workers’ (Offences) Bill through both
evil. This is close to being more killings in and machetes with seeming impunity, I Houses, and this now awaits the
seven months than in the whole of 2017. really do fear where this will end. formality of Royal Assent. The act will
Such tragedies create massive ripple That’s why I’ve said I support the increase the maximum sentence for
effects within the communities we serve, overwhelming number of colleagues who, assault PC to 12 months at Crown Court.
destroy families and ruin lives. They also in a recent survey conducted by the Police There can now be no doubt in the minds
lead to a heavy burden on our detectives Federation of England and Wales, said they of prosecutors that Parliament views
who are working harder than ever under feel they should have use of Taser. In fact, such offences very seriously indeed, and I
constant stress and trauma with little, or many of us, including me, said we felt a hope we will now act accordingly and
no, resilience cover. It’s led to other sidearm was required. That’s how regular ensure such criminals are routinely
detectives having to be seconded in to and severe the threat is to individual charged and placed before the courts.
help investigate these most serious front-line officers in our urban areas. The Government’s misleading
crimes, and that can mean inquiries into Accordingly, I’ve called on the Chief announcement of a two per cent pay rise

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