Page 11 - WMPF Federation April-May2021_Neat
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New legislation
Officer assaults:
maximum sentences
to double to two years
he maximum sentence for assaulting coronavirus.” opportunity and ensure the Bill brings
police officers and other emergency Jon adds: “The bill also sets out about a positive, meaningful and tangible
Tservice workers will be doubled from changes that will mean that police officers’ difference for our colleagues.
12 months to two years under a new bill driving is no longer judged by the “Our Protect the Protectors’ campaign
now making its way through Parliament. standards of the careful and competent brought about the original Assaults on
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and driver, something our deputy secretary, Tim Emergency Workers (Offences) Act
Courts Bill seeks to equip the police with Rogers, has campaigned on for more than 2018 which saw the maximum penalty for
the powers and tools they need to protect six years.” assaulting an emergency worker increase
themselves and the public. It was In addition to establishing a Police from six to 12 months. It is absolutely the
introduced to Parliament in early March Covenant giving serving and former right decision to see the maximum
and has already passed through its second members of the police service health and sentence being doubled, as the original
reading in the House Of Commons. wellbeing support, physical protection and tariff has proved completely ineffective.
“There are a number of measures in support for their families, the bill will allow However, this increase in sentencing will
this bill that will make a real difference to Special Constables to formally join the mean nothing unless the sentencing
police officers as well as the public,” says Police Federation. guidelines are updated and made fit for
Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police The bill has been welcomed by the purpose.
Federation. national chair of the Police Federation of “This bill also means that Special
“The proposed increase in sentences for England and Wales. Constables will now get the same legal
those who attack us and other emergency John Apter said: “This bill contains a protection and support as regular officers
service workers follows a campaign by the number of important changes we have as members of the Police Federation. As a
Federation which has long argued that the been campaigning for over many years to former Special myself, this is something I
courts need to be tougher on these give greater protection to police officers, have been very passionate about. This is
offenders, both to punish them and act as and recognise the unpredictable, only right, Specials carry a warrant card
a deterrent to others. dangerous and demanding job they do. and carry the same risk as regular officers,
“For far too long, police officers seem to “This is the first step to bring these I’m proud that the Federation is opening
have been seen as society’s punchbags and changes into law; we must grab this its doors to them as members.”
that has to stop. During the pandemic, we
have seen officers subjected to disgusting This bill also means that Special Constables
attacks in which they have been spat at or “ will now get the same legal protection and
coughed over by people claiming to have support as regular officers as members of
the Police Federation. “
www.polfed.org/westmids federation April/May 2021 11
