PFEW Conference: Home Secretary must show her recognition and support for officers after challenging year

3 June 2021

The Home Secretary must show her support and recognition of officers at the Police Federation conference after “a very difficult and challenging year”, according to Kent Police Federation.

The PFEW’s Annual Conference takes place virtually on 9-10 June. Among those attending will be the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), College of Policing (CoP) and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS). Home Secretary Priti Patel is also expected to make a speech.

Kent Police Federation Chairman Neil Mennie said he hoped Ms Patel would pay tribute to how hard police officers had worked during the pandemic, and that this should be reflected in improved pay and conditions.

He said: “It’s important this year that the Home Secretary addresses officers. It’s been a very, very difficult and challenging year right across the country, but particularly here in Kent where we’ve had our own challenges with Brexit as well as COVID.

“I think we need to see a recognition of the hard work that officers have put in, and the fact that going into the summer they’ll be extremely busy as we unlock, and there’s likely to be a lot more public order and other situations arising.

“We also need to see a reflection of that in the Police Covenant and ultimately in police pay.”

Neil added that politicians had been quick to criticise the police for their actions during recent protests, and that he hoped the Home Secretary would stick up for officers.

He said: “The Home Secretary has spoken in support of policing on quite a number of occasions. But we’ve had situations arise, such as protests, where politicians have been quick to criticise and undermine the police. Then, very quietly, reports are put together that actually show the police got things about right, but there’s silence from politicians.

“So it would be nice to see the Home Secretary taking some of her colleagues to task where they’ve been heavily critical of the police where subsequently it’s been found that the police actually haven’t done too much wrong.

“We’re looking to her to understand and support some of the difficulties that policing has to balance, particularly at protests.”