Safety review: proposals must be acted upon

7 September 2020

A new report into the rise of assaults against police has been welcomed by the chair of Humberside Police Federation as he called for officers to receive the best training, equipment and support.

Pete Musgrave says he’s disgusted by the increase in attacks on officers, particularly during the pandemic lockdown.

Now he’s calling for offenders to receive the toughest possible sentences to send out the message that assaulting officers will not be tolerated.

Pete said: “Our members worked tirelessly on the front-line during the pandemic to keep the public safe, so to see officers assaulted for doing their job – and in some cases threatened with Covid-19 as a weapon – was disgusting, and I’m sure the public will be equally as appalled.

“Any attack on an officer is one too many and we need the toughest possible sentences handed down to send out the message it won’t be tolerated.

“Our members are human and have the right to return safely to their families at the end of their shift. They need to receive the best equipment, the best training and the best support to carry out their roles safely.

“That is why I welcome this new report and look forward to the recommendations being swiftly implemented.”

Pete was speaking after the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing published their wide-ranging Officer and Staff Safety Review.

The review was commissioned by NPCC chair Martin Hewitt after a spate of attacks on officers – last year there were 30,679 assaults on police officers in England and Wales, or 84 a day.

More than 40,000 voices were canvassed for the Officer and Staff Safety Review, including many front-line officers.

Recommendations include training for roads policing officers, improved equipment and further research on the link between shift work and safe driving practices with the review having identified the high number of officer deaths as they travelled to and from work.

The national Federation has also welcomed the report’s recommendations, but vice-chair Ché Donald said it must not just become another doorstop and be forgotten in a year’s time.

He explained: “There are many good points raised in this review, with much good work already in play. However, chief officers must now take swift action to implement all immediately, so they are meaningful, make a tangible difference and are directly felt by officers on the ground.”

And he added: “Along with the majority of the public, the Federation is appalled by the atrocious levels of violence colleagues have faced recently and has been demanding action. That’s why we welcomed this review and want to see its finding make a real difference.

“All too often my colleagues are not treated as victims when they are assaulted, leaving them feeling failed by supervisors and the criminal justice system, as they have made clear in this officer and staff survey.

“It is only right officers have the very best equipment, training and support for the dangerous job they do; we made this crystal clear in PFEW’s evidence to the review.”

The recommendations include a review of equipment, the overhaul of safety training, and a new College of Policing led national curriculum so every officer receives the same standard of tuition.

In addition, the findings contain a commitment to officers and staff about the minimum standard of support and communication they would receive should they suffer an assault, and a pledge to consider further rolling out ‘Operation Hampshire’ - the seven-point plan to reduce assaults started locally in his home force by John Apter, who is now national Federation chair.