Page 5 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar 2020-flip_Neat

Chair urges new MPs to support officers

West Midlands Federation chair Jon Nott officers is one we will continue to push tackle the serious threats we face.”
has urged the region’s MPs to put throughout the year with the Force to ensure And he said that the pressure placed on
safeguarding officers at the heart of the thorough investigations take place, and with officers by decreased numbers as well as
new Parliament by backing the new Police prosecutors and the courts to ensure that the threat of violence against and an
Powers and Protections Bill. offenders face the correct charges and full increased workload was linked to the wider
Jon has written to all the West Midlands sentencing powers are used following issue of wellbeing.
MPs to update them on the Federation’s conviction. All too often lenient sentences are “Being a police officer takes its toll both
work and map out the priority areas for handed down for those who assault our physically and mentally. Rising violent crime
members. officers.” (particularly against officers), cuts to police
And he has encouraged them to ensure Jon, who said he would welcome the budgets and increasingly complex crimes
officers who put their lives on the line to opportunity to meet MPs to discuss the such as cyber-crime and historic sexual
protect the public have the resources they Federation’s and officers’ concerns further, told offences mean that officers are stretched
need and the full support of the criminal the MPs that he welcomed the pledge to more than ever before,” he said.
justice system. recruit 20,000 new officers but urged the “With a growing number of assaults on
“We ask for your support for the Government to commit the funding to return officers and, more than ever before, officers
Government’s Police Powers and Protections numbers to the levels of 2010. being absent from work due to stress,
Bill to give, among other things, police He said: “West Midlands Police has lost depression or anxiety, we have been
drivers better protection from prosecution,” more than 2,100 officers since 2010 when the campaigning for measures that can further
Jon wrote. Government’s budget cuts began and with support the physical and mental wellbeing
“Tim Rogers, our deputy secretary and those numbers has gone a considerable of our officers.
the Federation’s national response driving amount of experience. “In recent years we have been
lead, has led the campaign to change the “It should also be noted that there has encouraged much has been done to
law to ensure highly-trained police drivers, been no corresponding fall in demand, in fact, I address officer welfare. This includes the
chasing suspected criminals on the roads would say the opposite is true. While the pledge to recruit 20,000 new officers,
and driving to the very high standard allocation of new officers is welcomed, it will legislation to double the sentences for
required by their training, are better not take the Force back to the figures of assaults on officers, the Government’s
protected from the risk of lengthy pre-budget cuts. The new recruits will help support for a Police Covenant, and £10
investigation and potential prosecution. officers currently struggling with a high million ring-fenced funding for an increased
“In addition, the bill will institute a Police workload, but it won’t happen overnight. roll-out of Taser. “
Covenant to recognise the contribution that “We’re also concerned that nationally a He added: “There is more that can be
police officers make and seeks to guard and disproportionate number of new recruits will done but we hope you can support this bill
improve officer welfare and increase be directed to low crime areas and not as it will go far and away to improving the
sentences on those who assault officers.” allocated based on the very real needs of lives of the brave men and women who
He added: “The issue of assaults on forces, such as the West Midlands, to be able to police our streets and keep us safe.”

Response driving: Tim in Home Office discussions over new law

The setting of standards for police drivers experience and knowledge on the matter must be provided. Currently, the
under the new legislation that will give sitting with relevantly and recently Independent Office for Police Conduct
them better protection from conduct and experienced officers. The accepted proposal is sends only some of the evidence asking for
criminal proceedings is likely to sit under for the management and referral process to an opinion which, of course, is flawed.
the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). be governed through the most relevant NPCC “The Home Office supports this stance
Currently, police drivers are judged by group,” says Tim. and, albeit the IOPC was responsible for the
the standard of the careful and competent “The driver training strategic group almost collapse of the previous steering
under driving laws but this takes no headed up by Lancashire Deputy Chief group due to its view that it wasn’t
account of their unique role, their training Constable Terry Woods seems most independent, the legislation will make this
and their experience. appropriate as it has access to the regional fair process obligatory.”
Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West driver training leads, the very people who Ahead of the Home Office meeting, Tim
Midlands Police Federation and national assess officers as reaching the national met with the police liaison lead at the
Federation response driving lead, met with standards expected in line with the licence Department for Transport (Dft) to get an
Home Office officials on 20 January to provided by the College of Policing.” update on the national review of roads
discuss the finer details of the changes set However, Tim says the process through policing and also submit evidence on behalf
to be introduced under the Police Powers which this will be facilitated presents some of the Federation.
and Protections Bill which will allow for challenges. The two-year review has eight strands
police drivers’ skills to be taken into “Consistency of material provided is and will look at how roads policing
account. critical,” he explained, “My strong view is that currently operates, how effective it is and
“Setting the standard by which police as this is an expert witness function with the where improvements could be made.
officers’ driving will be assessed is likely to duty being not to the investigator but the l Progress but work still to be done – see
fall within policing due to the main process of truth then all available evidence Page 16.

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