Police minister’s backing welcomed

19 October 2020

West Midlands branch chair Jon Nott says the Federation will continue to campaign on behalf of members after getting the backing of the policing minister on a range of issues.

Kit Malthouse talked about the Government’s support for introducing a Police Covenant and better legal protection for police drivers “as soon as possible” after being questioned by Federation reps during an online meeting.

He also said he supported the idea that investigations into police officers by the Independent Office for Police Conduct should be expedited and more geared towards learning than punishment.

He assured Fed reps that the Government will see through its promise to double the custodial sentences for those who attack officers and said he would monitor the sentences judges hand out.

Jon said: “It’s great that the police minister has given his support on a range of issues that we’ve been campaigning for and that matter to our members.

“For instance, Tim Rogers, our deputy secretary and the Federation’s national pursuits and driver training lead, has led the successful Federation campaign to ensure police drivers receive better protection in law.

“The campaign aimed to ensure highly-trained police drivers, chasing suspected criminals on the roads and driving to the very high standard required by their training, are better protected from the risk of lengthy investigation and potential prosecution.

“This has now been included in the Police Powers and Protections Bill, along with the Police Covenant. This bill is due before MPs later this year or early in 2021.

“To know this has the policing minister’s support is very welcome.”

Jon added: “As a Federation, we’ve been calling for a Police Covenant to recognise the contribution that police officers make and seeks to guard and improve officer welfare.

“We’ve been calling for tougher sentences for those who assault officers because, all too often the lenient sentences are handed down.

“It’s welcome to have Mr Malthouse’s support, and we will continue to campaign on them to ensure they are brought into being.”

Mr Malthouse, who was questioned by Fed reps on a range of issues, listed his top three priorities as getting crime down, recruiting 20,000 new officers and ensuring the police family is “happy, safe and well-motivated”.

He praised police officers for the relations they have built with communities which paid “enormous dividends” during the pandemic.

On the uplift, Mr Malthouse said he was confident that 6,000 new officers would be recruited before Christmas, which would be three months ahead of schedule.

Mr Malthouse added that the Government hopes to change the face of policing with more female and black and minority ethnic (BAME) officers also in the mix.

Jon said: “It’s welcome that recruitment is ahead of schedule, we need as many officers as possible to ease the burden on colleagues and to tackle the issues that affect our communities.

“West Midlands Police lost more than 2,100 officers in the Government’s budget cuts from 2010 onwards, and with those went a considerable amount of experience.

“Of course, we want fresh young recruits, but we need a blend from other areas of society to add life experience to the Force.”

National Federation chair John Apter added: "There’s still a feeling that those more experienced in life like ex-military or public sector, policing does not want them.

“So, the age profile in policing is incredibly young. I don’t criticise them for that because we want keen people through the door, but we want a blend. So, we’ve got to change the tone of the messaging.”