Federation welcomes olive branch from Home Secretary

24 May 2018

ESSEX Police Federation has welcomed the olive branch extended by the Home Secretary at this year’s Annual Conference – but officers are looking for much more than warm words from their Home Secretary.

Sajid Javid spoke to delegates at the conference in Birmingham, and surprised them by offering a sympathetic ear, support for the police and promises of more resources and funding.

He vowed to back forces who wanted to introduce spit guards to protect officers, and said he would be taking the matter up with the Met Commissioner and other MPs.

Steve Taylor, Essex Federation Chairman, said: “I particularly welcome his comments on spit guards. I welcome his views on chief officers putting public perception before officer safety.”

Steve said he was also pleased to hear the Home Secretary say IOPC investigations on officers take too long, and that he did not believe they needed degrees to do a good job.

He added: “Some real common sense appeared to be on show there, with some of those views, and certainly there were lots of things that we can work with.”

“He’s set his stall out, I’m pleased by his willingness to engage and build a fresh and positive relationship that we can all get behind, but the proof will be in the pudding.”

But Steve warned that Mr Javid would need to do more to support the protect the protectors legislation currently going through Parliament – in the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill and the Emergency Response Drivers (Protections) Bill.

He added: “I would have liked to have seen more of an assurance for my members that him and his Government aren’t going to continue to kick the can of driver legislation down the road. I’d have liked to have seen that.

“I’d like to have seen more concrete support of the Protect the Protectors assault legislation, too.”