Officer safety the priority after more senseless violence, says PFEW
The national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales says the Government must do “much more” for officer safety in the wake of the violence against police at anti-lockdown protests in London at the weekend.
John Apter has vowed to continue his efforts to make sure officer safety is at the forefront of conversations with the Government and the Home Secretary.
Thousands of demonstrators took part in a march in London on Sunday – in violation of social distancing regulations – to demand a ban on vaccine passports and end to lockdown. Eight Metropolitan Police Service officers were injured as they attempted to disperse crowds of individuals who hurled missiles, including bottles.
Mr. Apter said: “These officers are just doing a job, they’re somebody’s son, or daughter. They’re mums and dads. To be targeted in the way they are says a lot about the society we’ve become. I will continue to do my best to support them, but I need Government to do more, much more.”
He has now raised the issue in person with the Home Secretary and the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, saying: “Nothing is more important to me than the safety of my colleagues, and their concerns are not being ignored.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Our brave police are the best of us and should not be the target of senseless violence by a criminal minority for just doing their job. I am getting tough on these thugs and will be doubling the sentence for assault of an emergency worker. I wish the officers a speedy recovery.”
Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, condemned the violence against the officers and said their safety should be “top of the agenda”.
He said: “Peaceful protest may well be the cornerstone of democracy – and police officers have a role in facilitating that – but the scenes we saw in Hyde Park yesterday of a thin blue line of brave and sadly bloodied police officers coming under attack from thugs were anything but peaceful.
“Police officers are human beings who go out every day to keep people safe. Many people seem to have forgotten that right now but we will keep reminding them. Our colleagues have every right to go home to their families at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital.
“We are still in the middle of a pandemic and our unvaccinated police officers deserve greater protection. We keep talking about promises to protect the protectors. But it is all talk. Where is the condemnation from all political parties of the scenes we saw yesterday? Why is this not all over the front pages? The irony of the complete silence from the Saturday night sofas of the armchair critics when police officers come under brutal attack will not be lost on our colleagues.”
Mr Marsh added: “We can assure everyone that we shall be raising the scenes we witnessed in Hyde Park yesterday with senior management in the Metropolitan Police with utmost urgency. The safety of our police officers should be top of the agenda. We wish all our injured colleagues a swift recovery and will be supporting them as best as we can.”