Roads policing under scrutiny

29 January 2020

Police Federation representatives from across England and Wales are gathering in Kenilworth again today for the second day of the annual Roads Policing Conference.

Tim Rogers, deputy secretary of West Midlands Police Federation and national Federation lead on pursuits, will represent West Midlands Police Federation at the two-day conference and, in addition to giving an update on police driver training, will take part in a panel session about SMART motorways.

Tim has been instrumental in the Federation campaign to secure a change in the law that will give better protection to police drivers and is pleased that speakers from both the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council will give an update on the new legislation on this issue included in the Police Protections Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech in December.

Tim said: “Cross-party support for a change to legislation means that we will no longer be judged against the careful and competent driver that is the expected standard of drivers.

“But then we don’t expect your average ‘careful and competent driver’ to be going through red lights, crossing the carriageway or exceeding the speed limit to get to an emergency call.

“All too often police drivers have found themselves facing months, and sometimes years, of legal and conduct proceedings simply for doing their job.”

“I am grateful for the support received from the Department for Transport, the Home Office and Her Majesty’s Government in making this significant progress.”

Tim has also welcomed the Home Office led review of roads policing looking at eight strands of work, saying it represents an massive opportunity for improvements to be made.

The 14th annual Police Federation roads policing conference is being held at Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth and will cover all the latest developments in roads policing, providing an invaluable opportunity for insights, learnings and discussions for those working on the roads.

The conference, which will include an address from policing minister Kit Malthouse, will bring together a range of speakers who work in or have specialist knowledge of aspects of roads policing, with talks, panels and break-out sessions.
It will highlight successes, challenges and best industry practice, and cover a wide range of roads policing topics including the use of drones.

View the agenda