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Metropolitan Police Sergeant Nikki O’Malley spoke about her experience, working on the frontline at riots.
Policing Protests: national

chair urges forces to

prioritise officers’ safety

“My view will always fall on the side of officer protective kit when working at protests, he getting extra powers to protect themselves
safety,” national chair John Apter told argued that there were more concerns about and the public.
delegates during a conference session on how they will look in the protective gear Among those who joined John was
policing protests. rather than prioritising staff safety. Metropolitan Police Sergeant Nikki O’Malley,
The segment focussed on the protests “That’s how it feels,” added John, who who spoke about her experience, working on
that have taken place over the past year and also voiced his concerns for new recruits, the frontline at protests, including one in
whether more needs to be done on especially the younger ones, saying that which she was not wearing protective kit,
educating the public on the role of the police public order policing “is a skill and can be resulting in her getting injured.
during these sometimes violent scary”. Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Andy
demonstrations. “We have good people on the frontline Marsh and Inspector Kim Brown of Cumbria
During the conference, John warned but there just aren’t as many staff anymore Constabulary were also part of the
against taking advantage of the goodwill and a lot of them are young.” conversation.
shown by officers, who continue to want to Looking to the summer ahead, John said CC Marsh defended his Force’s actions
protect the public, despite the situation. that the force will ‘throw whatever’ it needs during the toppling of the Edward Colston
“No matter how difficult and dangerous to, to protect the public. statue in Bristol. He insisted that if officers
the work is, they love it,” he said, “Don’t take “Policing reacts to crisis,” he explained, had intervened to prevent the statue from
advantage of that and their willingness to “The pressure cooker of frustration has built being rolled into the river they may have
step up. They need to be looked after by all up and we had a taste of it last summer.” been seriously injured.
forces. He continued to admit that forces The group discussed whether the public
“We have the best police force in the needed to look at the way they respond to and media should be better educated on the
world. We don’t have to do a lot to make protests and ask themselves if it is right. role of the police, especially at protests.
people feel valued and wanted.” “What does the future look like for us?” John said: “I’ve been relentless in my
Speaking about the fact that frontline he asked, referencing changes in legislation messaging to the media, not only in support
officers are not always required to wear later this year which could lead to officers of officers but also educating the public too
“ Policing reacts to crisis. The pressure cooker of worked closely with the media, locally, he
on why we do something in a certain way.”
He recognised that some chief officers
also said that there is so much more that
frustration has buit up and we had a taste of it
“The Police Federation has got a part to

last summer. “ could be done nationally.
play, and we will continue to do our best to
provide that education,” he added.
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