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Officer assaults

‘Mental impact

of assaults

has to be considered’

ore emphasis needs to be placed decisions taken by the CPS they have a Federation’s response driving lead, is
on the psychological impact of victim’s right to review and this should not currently working on plans for an
Massaults on officers, says the be forgotten,” says John, “Sometimes we are amendment to the Police Powers and
deputy chair of West Midlands Police seeing charges for assaults on the police Protections Bill, which is due before
Federation. being dropped as if they are less important Parliament in the autumn, which will give
John Williams, who represents the than other allegations but I think the words police powers to require a driver to get out of
Federation at the Force’s assaults meetings, of Rory Stewart when he was justice minister their vehicle after a police stop.
said the Force needs to realise that it is not should be in everyone’s minds.
always the physical injuries an officer “He said an assault on any individual or
receives that have a lasting impact on them. citizen in our society is terrible but an assault
“We speak to officers who may have only on an emergency worker was an attack on Sentences could
received a minor injury and yet it has a everyone since these people are society’s
profound effect on them mentally,” says constituted representatives, protecting it and be doubled for
John, “It can affect their confidence when delivering services on its behalf. Therefore he
carrying out their duties, play over and over argued these attacks should be punished officer assaults
in their minds, cause sleep disturbances and more severely than an attack simply on an
anxiety. This can then affect their individual victim. Doubling the maximum sentences for
relationships with their families, friends and “I think that is true and that is why we offenders convicted of assaulting police
colleagues. need to see these offenders receive tough officers will only be effective if the
“At the other end of the scale, you can sentences as a punishment but also as a courts use the powers available to
hear of officers who receive far more serious deterrent to others.” them, according to West Midlands
physical injuries but bounce back and are During the assaults meeting, John raised Police Federation chair Jon Nott.
largely unaffected. The point is you can’t the Federation’s concerns about a Force Jon was speaking after the
assume anything. Each officer’s individual ‘awareness video’ which shows officers how Government launched a four-week
circumstances and feelings have to be taken to stop vehicles safely. While welcoming the consultation that could lead to the
into account. There is no one approach that video, the Federation is concerned that the maximum sentences for assaulting
you can take and the Force has to be film only relates to drivers who are emergency workers being increased to
mindful of this.” compliant. two years in prison.
The Federation has urged the Force to John also asked if there was any intention The review into the Assaults on
also consider an appeals process when an to incorporate vehicle extraction into the Emergency Workers (Offences) Act
investigation into an officer assault results Force’s personal safety training but was told 2018 was launched on 13 July by the
in ‘no further action’ and has welcomed the this was difficult due to the time involved Justice Secretary, Lord Chancellor
fact this is going to be discussed in more and funding issues. Robert Buckland and Home Secretary
detail. Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West Priti Patel.
“When officers are unhappy with the Midlands Police Federation and the national

www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2020 11