3 October 2024

Federation Chair: Officers Should Not Be Afraid To Use Force When Necessary

“We must empower our officers to do what is an extremely challenging and dangerous job and allow them to utilise all the tools available to them.”

Dorset Police Federation Chair James Dimmack was commenting after British Transport Police Federation Chair Stuart Cowan told the BTPF annual conference that police officers were afraid to use force, a fear exacerbated by the length of time taken to investigate complaints.

Stuart told the conference: “One officer, who was subject to a vicious assault, told one of our reps they were afraid to use force because they were worried about PSD. They were so worried about getting a complaint and spending time under investigation that they risked their own health and wellbeing. That can’t be right.”

James said: “The revelation from BTP that officers are afraid to use force comes as no surprise to me. I have also heard this within Dorset Police and it is a deeply concerning direction of travel.

“As a police service, we are mandated to uphold the law and protect the King’s peace. The vast majority of people adhere to this without intervention. The few who transgress need to be policed, and sometimes that is only achievable through the use of force.

“Of course, this force has to be proportionate and reasonable. But how this is judged, by both the media and internally, is subject to increased scrutiny, often without the crucial benefit of context. We must empower our officers to do what is an extremely challenging and dangerous job and allow them to utilise all the tools available to them.”

He continued: “All too often, in the face of negative media stories, we forget the exceptional work of the vast majority of officers, day in and day out.”