Headline: Surrey Police Federation reacts to the disorder across the country

7 August 2024

“Officers are facing immense danger from this thuggery… Are politicians going to stand up and support officers when they use force to quell the disorder?”

Surrey Police Federation Chair Darren Pemble reacts to the disorder across the country – and praises the work of our courageous colleagues.

“Police Officers around the country will come together to combat this threat and keep our communities safe BUT there is no magic cupboard of officers to access.

These officers are the same ones out there currently policing the local neighbourhoods, who are now called upon to combat these mindless rioters.

“Officers are having their rest days and leave cancelled to tackle this threat. Officers in Surrey and Sussex will be working extended shifts so that there are policing resources available to protect the local communities.

“Officers will no doubt feel the fatigue as the days and weeks go by, so it is important that we give them the support they need from their Forces and local communities.

“Surrey and Sussex Federations will be supporting officers with the Forces so that they are looked after and supported.

“Policing wants to reassure and engage with the local communities of all faiths so that we can support everyone. I would urge people to support local policing so we can combat the thugs who are causing disorder and dispel this myth of "two-tier policing".

“Our colleagues’ police without fear or favour and they can only deal with what is in front of them. Officers are facing immense danger from this thuggery.

“Officers are again on the frontline where they stand between communities and disorder. Police accept that there is a risk, but this highlights once again how we are not valued for the job we do every day.

“The Government has vowed to back police officers… but will they back their words with actions? Our members are getting very wary of using force because using force doesn’t look great on cameras. The public expect officers to keep running and standing in the face of danger.

“We are acutely aware of how accountable we are but there needs to be a commons sense application of how we review what actions officers take in the face of danger. It is not helpful for politicians and the press to criticise and vilify policing from the comfort of their sofas.

“There appears to be an obsession for finding wrongdoing from those under the most immense pressure which needs to be replaced by having some respect for our cops. Are politicians going to stand up and support officers when they use force to quell the disorder?

“The message we are hearing is that the Prime Minister and the Government want a robust approach taken to deal with the disorder so I hope that policing will be supported for taking the fight to those causing the chaos and disorder.

“The Federation will be supporting officers and I hope that we can avoid officers being injured but it is unfortunately inevitable when we come up against such violence and hate.

“What we are seeing is unprecedented so those behaving in this manner need swift and strong justice to deter these thugs from causing damage, fear and harm across our communities.

“We wish for peaceful protest and send officers our best wishes - as I know the rest of the country will do.

“Police officers are not robots. We are mothers and fathers. Brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Husbands, wives and partners.

“We should be going home at the end of our shifts. Not to hospitals.

“Support Policing and let’s hope we can move through these difficult times together so that we are stronger on the other side.”