Page 6 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2021-flip_Neat

Legislative change

More progress with

moves to better

protect police drivers

embers of the Federation’s
Parliamentary Sub-Committee
Mhave met with leading Labour
politicians to discuss a number of key
policing issues.
These included the Federation’s latest
campaigns over officers’ zero per cent pay
award, officer wellbeing, amendments to the
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
aimed at ensuring police drivers are better
protected in law, changes to Section 163
which would require drivers to get out of
their car when asked to by a police officer and
the Time Limits initiative, which aims to bring
a half to long-drawn-out conduct inquiries.
“We had a very productive meeting,”
says the sub-committee’s secretary, Tiff
Lynch, “There was a broad support for our
campaigns and several MPs have agreed to
speak in Parliament to raise our concerns.
“The MPs were also keen to hear if the
new sentencing on police assaults was
having an impact since this came on the
back of our Protect the Protectors campaign
which was initially supported by Labour MP
Holly Lynch who then helped us secure
further backing.”
Holly, who is the MP for Halifax and
shadow minister for crime reduction and
courts, was at the meeting at the end of
September along with shadow home
secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds (MP for
Torfaen in Gwent), shadow police minister
Sarah Jones (Croydon Central, Jack Dromey
(Erdington, West Midlands), Emma Hardy
(Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle), Rupa
Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) and Jessica
Morden (Newport East).
The Federation team included national Federation officials and Labour MPs at their meeting during the Labour Party Conference.
Federation chair John Apter, vice-chair Ché
Donald and Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of their forces’ policies. But we have concerns have agreed to support the amendments.”
West Midlands Police Federation and the about the practicality of this approach and The Police, Crime, Sentencing and
national Federation lead on police pursuits want to see a reasonableness clause added Courts Bill is currently being considered in
and driver training. since policies and training cannot anticipate, the House of Lords before returning to the
Tim said afterwards: “The Police, Crime, regulate, train and license every eventuality. House of Commons. It is expected to
Sentencing and Courts Bill introduces a new They need the flexibility to respond legally become law early next year.
standard to which police drivers must to the incidents they encounter. l Roads Policing Conference – see Pages
conform and linked to their training and “The MPs listened to our evidence and 20 to 24.

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