MPs urged to support police in Parliament

15 March 2021

The chair of Derbyshire Police Federation has approached county MPs to ask them to support two bills that could have an impact on police officers.

Tony Wetton wrote a letter to all Derbyshire MPs outlining the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 and the Early Day Motion in relation to the Federation’s Time Limits campaign on police conduct cases.

He stated: “I’m writing to you as chair of Derbyshire Police Federation, representing the county’s police officers of the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector and chief inspector, to ask you to consider giving your support in Parliament to two pieces of work which are very important to those officers.

“The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 contains measures which the Federation has campaigned for over a number of years. These include introducing a Police Covenant to increase maximum sentences for those who assault emergency workers, protections in law for police response drivers and giving special constables the option of becoming members of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

“In addition, the Early Day Motion 1588 Police Federation Time Limits Campaign seeks to ensure that police officers are protected from unnecessarily lengthy investigations by Force professional standards departments and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

 “Officers have been subject to investigations going on for several years which causes untold harm to them, their families and their colleagues.”