Police Covenant: bill unveiled today

9 March 2021

Humberside Police Federation chair Pete Musgrave says a new bill which provides better welfare and legal safeguards for officers will make a real difference to members.

Pete was speaking as the Government today unveils its new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which establishes a Police Covenant following extensive campaigning by the Federation.

The bill also includes other measures to support officers, police staff and their families, including a safeguard for police drivers and tougher sentences for people who attack emergency workers.

Pete said: “There a number of measures in the bill that we’ve been campaigning for as a Federation and will make a real difference to our members. A Police Covenant will recognise the unique role our members perform and will support and protect them in their line of duty.

“It’s also pleasing to see measures to better protect police drivers and to double the maximum sentence for those who attack emergency workers, both of which we have been campaigning about.”

A Police Covenant will mean serving and former members of the police service are provided with continued health and wellbeing support, physical protection and support for their families, and will create a duty for the Home Secretary to report annually on the work being undertaken.

Alongside the establishment of the Covenant, the bill legislates to double the maximum sentences for those convicted of assaulting emergency workers in England and Wales to two years – something the Federation has been campaigning for.

The bill gives better legal protection to police drivers whose standard of driving will be assessed against a ‘competent and careful peer’ with the same training, rather than with a member of the public.

It also allows Special Constables to formally join the Police Federation.

The measures in the bill have been welcomed by the national chair of the Federation. 

John Apter said: “This bill contains a number of important changes we have been campaigning for over many years to give greater protection to police officers, and recognise the unpredictable, dangerous and demanding job they do. 

“This is the first step to bring these changes into law; we must grab this opportunity and ensure the Bill brings about a positive, meaningful and tangible difference for our colleagues.”