Page 14 - WMPF Federation June-July 2021_Neat

Conference Day 1

Home Secretary praises

officers and says ‘I have

got your backs’

ome Secretary Priti Patel has told body-worn video footage of incidents.
Police Federation members the She told the conference: “That’s why I
Hcountry depends on them and backed the Police Federation’s call for forces
pledged: “I have got your backs.” to share body-worn video footage to counter
In her keynote speech to the Police highly selective, and misleading, video clips
Federation of England and Wales’ annual uploaded on to social media.
conference, the Home Secretary praised the “I want forces to be more proactive in
courage shown by frontline officers sharing body-worn video footage to
throughout the coronavirus crisis. highlight the fantastic work of their officers,
She told them: “On behalf of the whole to build public confidence, and to correct
country, thank you for still being there for us harmful misinformation circulating online.
during one of the toughest moments in our “It is critical that we work as a system to
country’s history. ensure that we maintain public confidence
“You have done it superbly well and in policing, which is vital for victim
courageously.” reporting, intelligence-led policing, and to
Ms Patel acknowledged a rise in the maintain our treasured model of policing by
number of attacks on officers as protests consent.
swept the country last summer and Home Secretary Priti Patel. “As part of this process, we will be
described such behaviour as “grotesque”. looking carefully at strengthening the
She said: “It’s a cruel irony that while two years. system of local community scrutiny and the
most crimes naturally fell during lockdown, She said: “I will continue to do value of body-worn video, because
violence and abuse directed at police officers everything in my power to ensure assaults transparency is vital.”
increased. on our police are treated with the Ms Patel said the police had played a
“You were spat and coughed at by thugs appropriate severity across the whole heroic role bringing the country through the
claiming to have the virus. Some of you were criminal justice system. incredible shock of the coronavirus
seriously injured and your vans were set on As we come out of pandemic.
fire during the despicable events in Bristol She told Federation members: “As we
earlier this year. coronavirus, we come out of coronavirus, we must cut crime
“Police were bloodied and pelted with “ must cut crime and build back safer – and we can’t do it
bottles in Hyde Park in April.” without you.
Assaults on constables without injury and build back “Without you, we would not have dealt
increased by 21 per cent to 25,156 in the so many recent blows to serious and
year to December 2020 and attacks resulting safer - and we organised crime, including Operation
in injury rose by 2 per cent to more than can’t do it without Venetic - the UK’s biggest ever law
11,000, figures branded ‘shocking’ by the enforcement operation.
Home Secretary. you. “Without you, our drive to dismantle
She said: “This behaviour is grotesque. “ county lines drugs gangs would not have
And I will never accept that it’s simply part yielded such incredible results.
of the job. “Those who have contempt for the police “Without you, thousands of weapons
“It is an attack on the fabric of our may be louder and more vitriolic than ever, would not have been taken off our streets,
society. And every police uniform is worn by but they are vastly outnumbered and utterly as we crack down on serious violence.
a human being who is entitled to dignity wrong. Without you, we could not combat
and respect. “Far from feeling any shame in being a terrorism.
“The right to protest and speak freely police officer, you all should feel very proud “Without you, more young people would
does not include the right to smash up indeed. We have also acted in response to make bad choices and ruin lives, including
property, or abuse police officers.” what you said about the tools and powers their own. Without you, the public would
Ms Patel confirmed the Government was you need.” not feel safe. Without you, criminals would
doubling the maximum prison sentence for Ms Patel insisted she would not let the run riot and this country would fall apart.
common assault or battery against police be subjected to trial by social media “Our country depends on you. And I have
emergency workers from twelve months to and said she supported calls to release more got your backs.”

14 federation April/May 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids