Essex Police drivers still at risk as brakes applied to bill

6 April 2018

Essex police drivers remain under the threat of prosecution after the second reading of The Emergency Response Drivers (Protections) Bill was cancelled at the last minute.

MPs had been due to hear the second reading of the bill, which aims to give emergency response drivers better protection from prosecution, on March 16th.

However, it was pulled from Parliament’s agenda earlier that week to allow for the completion of an ongoing review which will investigate ‘the law and best practice regarding police pursuits.’

The bill is now expected to be given its second reading on July 6th.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor was angered by the delay.

“It’s desperately disappointing news,” he said.

“Even if it had received a second reading there’s still a long way to go in it delivering the protection we hope it will.

“It’s like a ticking time bomb and it’s only a matter of time until someone catches a severe cold off the back of their driving.

“Driving that we train them to do, driving that we expect them to do and that when they deliver within the parameters of their training, could still fall below the standard of a ‘careful and competent driver.”

Steve believes that every police driver should be afforded the same protection the proposed bill could provide and is opposed to the National Police Chief’s Council bid to focus any law changes on pursuit drivers in the first instance.

“I think we should push back from that,” he said.

“The risks and penalties faced don’t differ from the type of driving whether it’s in pursuit or answering a 999.
“It’s the result of the driving where the risk lies.

“We shouldn’t bite off little bits of the issue but should deal with it all in one go, otherwise we could end up pitting one type of police driver against another.”

The Police Federation Of England and Wales has fought long and hard for a revision to the bill to protect their members from unfair prosecutions.

“To get this disappointing news just hours away from a key legislative milestone, which had already secured cross-party support, is a bitter blow – and all the more devastating,” said its Pursuits Lead Tim Rogers.

The current legislation allows no exemptions for police pursuits meaning police drivers can be held liable for ‘dangerous driving’ even when in pursuit.

The law also doesn’t take into account the high level of specialised training officers are given.

“We will not stop campaigning for this important legislative change and we will also now have to consider our position and what advice to issue to members,” Tim added.