Federation welcomes Home Secretary’s pledge on Police Covenant

16 July 2021

Suffolk Police Federation has welcomed Home Secretary Priti Patel’s promise to make the new Police Covenant a “top priority”.

Ms Patel’s comments came after  the Police Covenant Board met for the first time to discuss a wide range of proposals to provide officers and staff with long-term support and protection to carry out their duties, with the focus on health and wellbeing, physical safety, and support for families.

The Home Secretary said: “I have been resolute in my determination to ensure that the police have the support they need in order to carry out their duties to protect the public. This is an absolute priority for me.

“The new Police Covenant will recognise the dangers and the harms they face each day as they undertake their duties.”

Her comments were welcomed by Suffolk Police Federation secretary Ben Hudson who said: “It is important that our members know they have the full support of the Home Secretary so we are pleased that she has agreed to make the Police Covenant a priority.

“Officer wellbeing is one of the key aspects of the proposals and we are delighted that this issue is being given the attention it deserves.

“Our members and their families deserve special recognition for the sacrifices they make and we hope this is made clear in the Covenant.”

Police Federation national chair John Apter  described the first meeting of the Police Covenant board as an  “important step forward”, adding: “The Police Covenant is something I believe passionately about, and I am incredibly proud this is finally turning into reality.

“We have worked long and hard on the creation of a covenant to ensure it benefits all police officers, staff, volunteers, their families, and our retired colleagues.

“The first meeting of the Covenant Board is an important step forward and I look forward to playing my part in ensuring the covenant is meaningful and tangible for all our members and their families.”

The board discussed plans for occupational health standards to be embedded across all police forces, the establishment of a new chief medical officer for policing in England and Wales and improved training for GPs relating to specific police roles.

Plans to develop pre-deployment mental health support for the entire police workforce and consider what a good support model for families should look like were also discussed at the meeting.

The Covenant Board will meet every quarter to discuss the Police Covenant, deliver agreed outcomes and monitor progress.

Those attending the meeting alongside PFEW and the Home Office included representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Police Superintendents’ Association, Unison, the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association and the Welsh Government.

A consultation process on the new covenant was launched last year aimed at serving and former police officers, their families and any groups with an interest in supporting the police in England and Wales.

Plans for the covenant are set out in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is due to be discussed in the Lords in the autumn having already progressed through the House of Commons.