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much more than a slap on the wrist knew
the minimum sentence for attacking a Police Covenant will become law
police officer was two years, perhaps it
would have an impact.
Along with this change to legislation in West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon “As a Federation, we’ve been
terms of sentencing, we are also seeing the Nott says plans to create a Police Covenant campaigning for a covenant that recognises
Federation’s campaign for a Police Covenant will recognise the unique role of officers the role we have in society, so it’s pleasing
taking shape too. This will enshrine in law a and staff and will improve support and to see it take another step towards
duty to offer protection and support to all protection for them. becoming a reality,” he added.
members of the policing family. We look Jon welcomed an announcement by The covenant applies to serving and
forward to seeing this taking effect so that Home Secretary Priti Patel at the Police former police personnel and creates a
all officers and staff, both serving and Superintendents’ Association annual statutory duty for forces to support police
retired, and their family members can conference that a Police Covenant will be officers.
access any support they need. introduced in legislation. It will focus on protection, health and
The Police Covenant was first set out in He said: “Policing is a unique job. Our wellbeing, and support for families, and
the Police Powers and Protections Bill which members put themselves in harm’s way places
is due to come before Parliament soon. The every day to support and protect the public. It follows a campaign by the national
bill also includes the changes to legislation “It’s only right that officers, police staff, Federation which included a public
required to make sure that police drivers are former colleagues and their families are consultation process that found more than
not judged against the standards of the given the support and protection they 90 per cent of respondents backed
careful and competent driver, as is currently deserve. Government plans for a covenant.
the case.
Our deputy secretary, Tim Rogers, who is Home Secretary backs BWV campaign
also the national Federation’s pursuits and
driver training lead, was at the forefront of clips that are taken out of context can get
the campaign for this change to the law a reaction from some members of the
which will mean that police drivers’ training public.
and experience can be taken into account “They can quickly go viral and suddenly
when assessing their driving. officers can find themselves at the centre
He is now seeking a further change to of a social media storm, which can be a
legislation that will give better protection difficult and unpleasant place to be.
to officers involved in police stops following “It’s only right that, where appropriate,
a series of incidents in which officers have we can counter any false narrative to
been seriously injured, see Pages 8, 9 and 11 support and protect our members and to
for more details. preserve the trust the public has in
Finally, I would just like to mention this policing.”
year’s National Police Memorial Day. This Jon was speaking after national
annual event is one of the key dates in the Federation chair John Apter recently raised
policing calendar, recognising as it does this topic with Home Secretary Priti Patel
those officers who have died while serving during an exclusive interview for POLICE,
their communities. the Federation’s magazine.
The memorial day provides an Ms Patel branded the publicising of
opportunity for the policing family to come unbalanced footage in an attempt to vilify
together with fallen officers’ loved ones, officers as ‘unacceptable’.
show our respects and show that we will As a direct result, the Home Secretary
never forget them. has now written to Martin Hewitt, chair of
This year, as with so many other events, Home Secretary Priti Patel. the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC),
the memorial day itself – which was due to The chair of West Midlands Police encouraging forces to be proactive in
take place in Lincoln – was cancelled due to Federation says the support of the Home considering when BWV footage can be
restrictions. But the trustees of the Secretary is a welcome step that released to demonstrate the good work
memorial day charity were keen to ensure strengthens the Federation’s campaign for officers do and to show that selective
the day did not go by without a suitable forces to share body-worn video (BWV) footage can be misleading.
tribute to our fallen colleagues. footage with the public. She said: “It is in this context that I am
A virtual service was put together with Jon Nott’s comments come as part of a expressing my support for the Police
the patron of the memorial day, HRH The campaign aiming to protect officers from Federation’s recent campaign to protect
Prince of Wales, recording a message in being at the centre of a social media storm officers from unfair criticism via social
which he acknowledged the unique role of when selected clips of incidents involving media.”
police officers in society. the police are posted on the internet The NPCC and the college have agreed
The service, of course, had the added exposing them to personal abuse. to begin reviewing BWV guidance with the
poignancy of being just two days after the Jon said: “The support of the Home Federation feeding into the process.
loss of Matt Ratana which highlighted the Secretary serves to strengthen our l Read more about the Home Secretary’s
risks officers face each and every day. We campaign and sends out a positive interview for POLICE magazine on
will remember him and all our fallen message to our members. We’ve seen how Page 30.
colleagues.

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