Chair urges policing minister to ‘fulfil your promises’

12 September 2024

Keith Chambers has commented after Dame Diana Johnson addressed the audience at this year’s Superintendents’ Association Conference, in which she ended her speech with, ‘we will always support you’.

And while Keith says Dame Diana’s supportive comments are welcome, he has called on the policing minister to ensure her words are backed by actions.

“The policing minister - as well as our Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper - have stood up and thrown their support behind policing since the day they were both appointed in their roles. But is it anything more than words?” says Keith.

Police Minister Dame Diana Johnson.

“Just a few weeks ago, it was announced that police officers would receive a 4.75 per cent pay rise, yet junior doctors will be given almost five times that, at 22 per cent. I'm hardly surprised our members are feeling let down by the system.

“It’s about time that these pledges of support materialise into action.”

In her speech, made to conference attendees on Tuesday (10 September), Dame Diana said: “I’m appalled that new figures revealed show that assaults on our women and men in uniform are still far too high.

“Even preceding the violent disorder of this summer – assaults on police officers are up, with a quarter of those incidents resulting in injury.

Service

“The Home Secretary was right to call this a ‘stain on our society’ and to say that it will not be tolerated.

“So, we recognise your service and your sacrifice.

“Whether it’s responding to violent disorder, running towards danger, attending emergencies or investigating serious crimes, we know that the heroic daily work of the police exerts a huge strain on officers and their families.

“That’s why we will always support you, as you support your teams to serve our communities.”

Latest figures revealed that there were 45,907 offences of assaults on policing officers in the year ending March 2024.

A total of 854 Derbyshire officers were assaulted in that same year.

Keith continued: “These figures are appalling. Our officers should not fear that they might be assaulted while simply doing their job.

“Instead, they must feel valued and respected - not just by members of the public but by the Government too.

“We’re being told that the Government do ‘support us’ but Dame Diana, it’s time to take action. Show our members that you truly mean what you say and fulfil the promises you keep making.”

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