Page 30 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2020_Neat

Interview with Home Secretary

Priti Patel: ‘it’s vital

officers are given

absolute protection’

Home Secretary Priti Patel. The Federation’s national chair John Apter.
he Home Secretary has compared her during the pandemic. She also committed to “We need to take on this issue with these
role as a politician with that of a continuing to work closely with the service clips which have so much damaging,
Tpolice officer in an online interview and to securing harsher sentencing for selective effect both on public confidence in
with the Police Federation of England and assaults against officers and other blue light policing and on police officers themselves.
Wales. workers. We need to stop being apologetic based on
Priti Patel talked exclusively online to “Policing is gritty work. I see the selective clips and information as that
the Federation’s national chair, John Apter, commitment and conviction, the lives undermines transparency. There is a robust
as part of a new ‘The chair asks’ feature in officers lead, shift patterns, the effect on system for dealing with complaints, with
Police magazine and responded to his family life, but I also see the human beings, allegations of misconduct and we have
question around her passion for policing. the kindness,” she said. guidance, we have regulations.
“It’s about the shared values we have,” “The Police Covenant must focus on “If individuals feel so strongly about
she said, “Policing is in my family and I’ve respect, protection and recognising the certain actions, then go ahead, use those
seen the most extraordinary and extraordinary work our police officers do. It’s robust systems rather than show off on
exceptional things around policing. My work not just a blue light service, it’s a very social media. I think Twitter should look at
is all about putting people first and I see big specialised service. It’s a collective of themselves with regard to the level of
similarities with policing. I’ve always had individuals who run towards danger to abusive and vile content they allow to go up
that connectivity with public service and protect our society. So it’s vital that they are and we will absolutely press them on taking
those on the front-line who give their all to given absolute protection; not just kit but down some of the most appalling and
serve their communities, so I think it’s a their welfare and safety and extending that abusing content and also let that be a
natural affinity that we have.” arm around their family.” message to the individuals putting this up
In an informal, wide-ranging interview, When John asked her for her thoughts there too.”
Ms Patel also talked about the Police on what he called ‘almost the sport’ of You can read the full interview in POLICE
Covenant, stop and search and policing videoing police officer assaults, she replied: magazine at polfed.org

30 federation October/November 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids