Page 8 - WMPF Federation FebMar2021-Hi_Neat

Protecting officers

Federation calls

for more consistent

assessment of

driving standards

ll police drivers must be assessed to drivers’ specialist training and expertise to careful constable who has undertaken
a consistent standard to ensure they be taken into account under traffic laws,” the same prescribed training or who has
Ado not fall foul of a new law explains Tim, who is also deputy secretary of the same prescribed skills, and
designed to offer them better protection in West Midlands Police Federation, “We were l It would be obvious to such a competent
law, says the Federation’s national response seeing far too many officers facing years of and careful constable that driving in that
and driver training lead. conduct or criminal investigation for way would be dangerous.
Tim Rogers fears a lack of knowledge dangerous driving when in reality they had Tim, who led a five-year Federation
and understanding among those assessing been using their skills and training to do the campaign for a change to the legislation,
officers’ driving and inconsistent practices job they were asked to do. explains: “We welcome this change but if we
both around the country and even within “This has now been addressed and the have people tasked with judging an officer’s
individual forces could still lead to conduct new bill introduces a new test for police driving they must firstly be fully aware of
or legal action against officers when the drivers.” the standard required but also ensure they
Police Powers and Protections Bill, which is This means officers will be regarded as are consistent and professional in their
due before Parliament in the coming weeks, driving dangerously only if: approach.
becomes law in the autumn. l The way they drive falls far below what “As it stands currently, I am afraid we can
“The Federation campaigned for police would be expected of a competent and have five similar driving matters being

08 federation February/March 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids