Page 21 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2021-flip_Neat

“You need IOPC support for

a pay rise”
amendment to new bill

Support for an amendment to the Police, outside of their training and force policy.
Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to “The Federation is concerned about
better protect police drivers has been situations in which police drivers are
voiced by a director at the Independent required to act instinctively and find
Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). themselves in a situation which might
Steve Noonan from the IOPC’s not have been the subject of policy or
directorate of major investigations, was teaching and officers have elected to
speaking at the Federation’s virtual Roads drive outside of training, and we have all
Policing Conference during a panel session done this for the right reasons, to keep
called “Steering Change for Police Drivers”. the public safe, means that that driver
Steve said the IOPC found itself in the has potentially and consciously decided
unusual position of being on the same to perform a manoeuvre that’s not been
page as the Federation. tested or approved so embarking
“Police officers should be able to untrained on an untested manoeuvre is
respond to emergencies without fear that likely of itself to fall within this new
they are going to face unfair definition of careless or dangerous
consequences,” he said. driving,” Tim explained, “And, without
“We remain concerned that the amendment, the new legislation which
current draft of the legislation may only is intended to allow officers to assist the
Shadow MP for policing Sarah Jones. partially achieve the policy’s objective and public in the many and varied situations
may have some perverse results. that they face could either leave them
Sarah Jones, Labour’s shadow minister for “We would like to reach the position either reliant once more on the goodwill
policing, has spoken out about the recent where police drivers have the confidence of the CPS and the IOPC to avoid
pay freeze during the ministerial address to to do the difficult job that we ask them to prosecution.”
online attendees at this year’s Roads Policing do which is also balanced alongside public The wording of the bill needed to be
Conference. safety.” “tweaked”, said Tim, a move that had
Criticising the Government’s decision to He stressed that they did not want to gained cross-party support.
freeze the pay of officers earning more than be left in a position where there was Tim’s arguments were supported by
£24,000, Ms Jones said she was “ashamed” ambiguity over which cases are referred to barrister Mark Aldred who said it was
of that action, before pledging her the IOPC and that there was an hugely important that the Government
commitment in getting officers the rise they opportunity within the legislation to got the legislation right so that police
deserved. remove that ambiguity. officers had the tools they needed to do
“I am ashamed you have been offered a Earlier in the session, Tim Rogers, their job and protect the public.
pay freeze – you need a pay rise. I also know deputy secretary at West Midlands Police The bill is currently being considered
the process of not getting vaccines was Federation and national Federation lead in the House of Lords and the Federation
really painful. I am sorry that was not done on pursuits and driver training, thanked is hoping it will be remitted back to the
for you. all partners who had made the House of Commons for amendment.
“A pay freeze is in effect a pay cut, due to Federation’s campaign for legislative Other speakers during the session
things like inflation,” she said, “It’s not change a reality. included Terry Woods, Deputy Chief
acceptable.” The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Constable at Greater Manchester Police
Ms Jones also paid tribute to the Courts Bill, he said, made the changes and driving lead on the National Police
fantastic work done on the roads during the required a reality but outlined that it Chiefs’ Council, and Tracey Catling from
pandemic, saying: “I want to thank all road needed to be amended to allow drivers to the Police Powers Unit at the Home
police officers for the work that you do. It’s act instinctively. Office.
an incredibly important job and the cuts to The bill meant police drivers would no A poll of delegates revealed that 92
your numbers have had a significant impact. longer be judged by the standards of the per cent felt the law should change to
We will be holding the Government’s feet to careful and competent driver but by the take into account the need for
the fire over this.” standards of a competent police drivers professionally trained police drivers to
She also discussed the Police, Crime, who had undertaken the same level of react instinctively to the incidents they
Sentencing and Courts Bill and the proposed training. are dealing with, even if these fall
changes to legislation which would create a This, he pointed out, still left them at outside their training.
new standard for road officers to be judged risk of prosecution since it was clearly not And 87 per cent felt driving outside
in a court setting. possible to train officers for every training and policy could mean officers
“The legislation isn’t quite there yet,” she situation that they may come across and are automatically judged to have not
said, “And I don’t feel protection is in place therefore they would inevitably act been careful.
for officers and their mental health.”

www.polfed.org/westmids federation October/November 2021 21