'We need actions not words' Fed chair urges MPs

19 September 2024

Dyfed Powys Police Federation has welcomed a commitment by the new Policing Minister towards safer streets and neighbourhood policing.

Labour’s Dame Diana Johnson MP used her inaugural address at the Police Superintendents’ Conference last week to condemn the riots which erupted across England and Wales this summer, and to heap praise on police officers.

And she went on to denounce 'unacceptable attacks' on the emergency services and pledged to restore respect for the rule of law on British streets, 'including restoring respect for the police, which has sadly been eroded over many years'.

Promising to equip policing to get back to tackling the issues that matter, she said: “Too many town centres and high streets across the country have been gripped by an epidemic of anti-social behaviour, theft and shoplifting, which is corroding our communities and cannot be allowed to continue.

Anti-social behaviour

“There are thousands of incredible police officers and support staff doing an admirable job. But we do have to face the reality that there are still too many victims of anti-social behaviour who feel that when they call the police, no one listens, no one comes and nothing is done.”

Dame Diana said neighbourhoods and police forces had “suffered enough a decade of decline” under the previous government, and Labour would restore neighbourhood policing by training dedicated local officers via a programme rolled out through the College of Policing.

Police Minister Dame Diana Johnson MP.

“We will implement a new Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, restoring patrols to town centres, recruiting thousands of additional police personnel, and ensuring every community has a named local police officer to turn to,” said Dame Diana, a former chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

In response, chair of Dyfed Powys Police Federation Delme Rees said: “Anti-social behaviour is a scourge for too many residents in our communities. My colleagues will always do our utmost to protect the public, but right now, we are run ragged and pulled in all directions – for a serious focus on town centre and neighbourhood policing, we need more boots on the beat, and that requires action. 

"We welcome the words, but this has to be backed-up with actual new investment.”

Communities

In other highlights of Dame Diana’s speech to the Police Superintendents’ Conference in September, she announced a Policing Programme Career Pathway to focus on anti-social behaviour, community engagement and problem-solving to 'equip neighbourhood officers with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need' and pledged a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with a named officer accountable to communities.

The bulk of her speech was on the subject of the summer riots, which were triggered by the appalling murder of three children in Southport.

Dame Diana said: “At a time when we should have been focused only on supporting those affected by the attack and allowing the urgent police investigation to get underway, we instead found ourselves responding to an outbreak of widespread violent disorder.

“The hijacking of those poor families’ grief at that time was utterly shameful as was the violence directed towards police officers working to maintain order and protect the community. The swiftness of the response by policing and the wider criminal justice system was fundamental to getting the situation under control and restoring order. So, we recognise your service and your sacrifice.”

As part of a national mobilisation plan, more than 40,000 officer shifts were worked over that 10-day period, with over 6,600 officers deployed on one day alone.

READ MORE: Drop in officer numbers 'not surprising'.