Police Covenant: have your say

27 February 2020

The chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation is urging all officers to have their say and help shape the new Police Covenant which will enshrine the welfare of officers, police staff and their families in law.

Geoff Bardell has welcomed the news from Home Secretary Priti Patel who yesterday (26 February) announced an eight-week consultation period on the plans.

“This is our one chance to ensure you, your colleagues, your families and the police officers of the future have the support, protection and recognition they deserve.

“It is a simple online questionnaire which asks for people’s views on the wording of the covenant and who it should apply to as well as asking questions around officer safety, health and wellbeing and the Government’s role in setting standards for safety equipment.”

Ms Patel made the announcement in a statement to Parliament in which she said she was committed to introducing the Police Covenant in England and Wales to ‘recognise the exceptional job our front-line officers do in unique and challenging circumstances’.

“Our outstanding police deserve the upmost respect, support and recognition,” she said, “Brave officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, demonstrating remarkable courage, sacrifice and public duty.

“They face extraordinary pressure as they protect the people they tirelessly serve from terrorists, serious violence and exploitation. Their families too often fear for their safety or are left to pick up the pieces when something goes wrong.

“From day one, this Government has put our world-class police first and prioritised their wellbeing. That’s why we have committed to introducing a Police Covenant in England and Wales to recognise the exceptional job our front-line officers do in unique and challenging circumstances.

“We are determined to give our officers the enhanced support they need, so I have accelerated work on this pledge to protect both them and their loved ones. Our commitment to ensuring our police have the recognition they deserve is absolute, so this Covenant will be enshrined in law. This will leave no room for doubt, creating a statutory duty to do more to support our police.”

Take part in the survey.