Page 9 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

Government has finally agreed that a their jobs, protecting their communities, The Government must be bold
legislation change is required, it must now following their training and current 2019 and put out a statement
act quickly to prevent more officers suffering guidance, acting proportionately and saying precisely when it will
unnecessary and often mendacious responsibly are prosecuted or put through January make the amendments to the
prosecutions. It is crucial we protect the conduct proceedings.” law it has promised to ensure
people who protect us and give them the police drivers get the legal protection they
confidence to be able to do their jobs and Tim expresses his ‘bitter need when carrying out their job, Tim told
keep the public safe.” disappointment’ that the the Federation’s roads policing conference.
2018 Private Members’ Bill Calling the current situation an
In a confident statement, Tim December proposing better protection ‘irreversible position of agreement’, Tim tells
says there will be a change in in law for police drivers was delegates Brexit was no excuse for delaying
2018 the law to offer better delayed once again. legislative change and that nothing should
August protection for police drivers The second reading of Sir Henry have greater importance than giving officers
and says the issue will be Bellingham’s Emergency Response Drivers the tools they needed to serve and protect
resolved when Parliament reconvenes in the (Protections) Bill, put forward on behalf of the public.
autumn. the Police Federation, was put back from
“We are almost there,” says Tim, “Later Friday 23 November to March 2019. The Home Office issues a
this year we will either see the bill outlining “While the lack of progress for Sir Henry’s 2019 Written Ministerial Statement
the legislative change we require put bill is, of course, a bitter disappointment, we announcing plans to change
forward by Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham have to take stock of where we have come 2 May the law to give police drivers
making its way to law or the Government from and what has been achieved over the better protection from
will lay down its own plans to change the past two years. It’s certainly not all bad,” said prosecution.
law. Tim. “Our focus was, and always will be, to Tim welcomes the news but urges the
“This will be a victory for this campaign, get the current legislative flaw remedied to Government to prioritise the issue.
for police officers and other emergency ensure that our stretched professionals can
service drivers but also for common sense. It do simply what society expects without the
cannot be right that police officers doing reserved right to prosecute them.

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