Health and safety: ‘We will hold forces to account’

26 January 2023

Chief constables must ensure their forces comply with health and safety laws, the Police Federation has warned.

National Federation health and safety lead Mark Andrews said members were still being exposed to significant risks every day and called on senior officers to use all available information to assess risk and put in place control measures to reduce the danger attached to each role, event or circumstance their officers are involved in.

Mark said: “I continue to be shocked by the information sent to me by Fed reps around the country, detailing the health and safety failings by forces and the risks this presents to our members. 

“This ranges from not recognising obvious risks leading to a direct threat to life, to the lack of the provision of basic facilities to maintain the dignity of officers seeking toilet breaks or to change sanitary products.  

“This is not good enough. The Police Federation is now working to remind forces of their legal obligations to treat their employees with dignity, consideration and understanding. We will hold police forces to account and make sure police employers do better.”

His comments were echoed by Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell, who also serves as the branch’s health and safety lead.

Luke said: “It is important that the Force continues to have a robust plan in place to review working practices to ensure that both near misses and incidents are fully investigated and where risk is identified measures are put in place to mitigate.

“The issue of single crewing, for example, is one such area that needs to be revisited by the Force, with a highly changed workforce and higher risk when patrolling, this is one area that needs work. 

“We have a younger and more inexperienced workforce so we need to ensure they feel confident and able to deal with the serious and dangerous incidents they attend.

“Members with any concerns over health and safety issues should contact me without hesitation.”

Mark said the Police Federation’s six-point health and safety wish list was not unreasonable and actually enshrined in law.

The Police Federation is calling on forces to ensure:

• Suitable and sufficient risk assessments are undertaken with reasonably practicable control measures put in place where appropriate
• Recognition as to when Generic Risk Assessments need to be updated or changed
• Appropriate training
• Uniform, equipment and PPE to keep officers secure and comfortable
• Working locations where we have facilities to rest, concentrate and take care of our basic human needs
• Consideration of our needs when deployed on operational situations.

Mark added: “I have engaged with our employers and other stakeholders across the country, reiterating their legal obligations to our members and the ball is now firmly in their court to improve the areas which need it and share their best practice with other colleagues. 

“I look forward to seeing improvements across the board to ensure our officers are being treated fairly and are not exposed to unnecessary, avoidable risks.”