Page 8 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2020_Neat

Federation campaign

Federation seeks

support of

transport minister

ransport minister Grant Shapps is appear content to use their vehicles as a l An amendment to S164 of the Road
being asked to support a change in weapon in their bid to escape justice,” says Traffic Act to require occupants to get
Tlegislation which could give better Tim. out of a vehicle when required to do so
protection to the police when they stop “Clearly, police officers are vulnerable. As by a police officer.
vehicles after a series of incidents in which servants of the Crown, they should rightly In the letter to Mr Shapps, Tim explains:
officers have been seriously injured by drivers expect the Government to prioritise their “Our legal advice confirms that these
making off during a police stop. safety and ensure that safety is enshrined in changes could be implemented by minor
Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West law.” amendments to the existing sections and
Midlands Police Federation and the national The Federation wants the Department would not involve a significant curtailment
Federation’s response and driver training lead, for Transport to get behind changes to the of existing civil liberties.
is heading a campaign to amend two sections Road Traffic Act as part of the Police Powers “While it is currently an offence to fail to
of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which would give and Protections Bill which is due to come stop for a constable in uniform, once the
police officers the authority to require drivers to before Parliament in the autumn. vehicle has stopped, the obligation on the
turn off their engine when stopped and also to It is calling for the bill to include: driver is satisfied – they only need to stop.
demand that all occupants leave a vehicle. l An amendment to S163 of the Road Under S164, an officer can require people to
“Sadly, incidents in which police officers Traffic Act to extend the obligation on provide information and documents. But
are injured by drivers fleeing during a police motorists to stop to an obligation to this means the officer has to get out of their
stop are happening more and more as people stop and switch off the engine own vehicle to make the request or check

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