Next step towards Police Covenant welcomed

9 September 2020

A move by the Home Secretary to enshrine a Police Covenant in law has today been welcomed by West Mercia Police Federation chair Sarah Cooper.

Sarah said the covenant will improve the welfare of officers, staff and their families.

She was speaking after Priti Patel confirmed at the Police Superintendents’ Association annual conference that the Police Covenant will be introduced in new legislation.

Sarah said: “As a Federation we’ve been campaigning for a covenant to recognise the unique role that our members perform and to support and protect them in the line of duty and beyond.

“They have been on the front-line of the nation’s response to the pandemic and they continue to put themselves in harm’s way every day to serve their communities.

“It’s great to see the Home Secretary pledging to enshrine a covenant in law to offer the help, support and protection they and their families need and I welcome this important next step in its creation.”

The covenant will apply to serving and former police personnel and their families and creates a statutory duty for forces to support police officers. It will also place a requirement on the Home Secretary to report annually to Parliament.

John Apter, the chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), said: “This covenant will mean much more than words to serving or former police officers. It recognises the unique position they hold in society and the fact they very often put their lives on the line.

“The benefits of this Police Covenant will be welcomed by the entire policing family. We would therefore like to thank the Home Secretary for her enthusiastic support and for turning PFEW’s campaign for a covenant into a reality.”

This latest development follows a campaign by the national Federation which included a public consultation process that found more than 90 per cent of respondents backed Government plans for a covenant.

Ms Patel announced the publication of the consultation response in a virtual speech to the superintendents’ conference, where she also outlined a commitment to stand firmly by the side of police.

She said: “The police and the families that stand behind them deserve special recognition. Their bravery and sacrifices are what keep us and our loved ones safe. I will put the Police Covenant in law to ensure they will always have the support of the nation.”

The Government proposals ensure the covenant applies to all those working within or retired from policing roles, whether paid or as a volunteer. A new governance structure is planned to drive future activity on wellbeing and protection to fulfil the covenant.