HOME SECRETARY VOWS ‘POWERS, TOOLS AND BACK-UP’ TO FIGHT CRIME
“This conference has quite a reputation for giving speakers a difficult time, for asking questions that sometimes no one wants to answer.
“I think I’m the 40th home secretary since the federation was founded 99 years ago. They’ve come from every point on the political spectrum but not one has ever served as a police officer.
“I’m told I am the first home secretary with a police officer in my immediate family.
“My family grew up on a road in Bristol described by one national newspaper as ‘Britain’s most dangerous street’. One journalist referred to it as a ‘lawless hellhole where murder, rape, shootings, drug pushing, prostitution, knifings and violent robbery are commonplace’.
“To us, it was just home. All my parents wanted for me and my brothers was for us to do well – to work hard and to play by the rules.
“When I was younger, I was in a gang – of two – me and one of my brothers. I was 10, he was eight. Our gang was called the Crime Busters and our mission was to find crime and to bust it.
“Our equipment was two knackered old bikes and two cheapo walkie-talkies. One of us used to patrol the streets, the other one used to hang out at a phone box in case there was an incident and he had to call 999. We didn’t get very far; the walkie-talkie had a distance of about three metres.
“I hope your equipment is a bit better.
“Years later, that brother is still a crime buster, only this time, for real – as a chief superintendent – having started as a PC some 25 years ago.
“Over the years, I’ve heard what he has to say about policing and I’ve seen the impact the job has on family life.
“He’s been hospitalised more times by being assaulted on duty than I care to remember. He missed Christmas once after having his jaw dislocated.
“And as you would expect from a brother, he doesn’t shield me from the truth.
“Long before I was a politician, he took me out on a ride-along in the back of his police car in Bristol city centre. I thought it would be an interesting insight into his job, but I wasn’t prepared for the abuse he and his colleague received that night. At one point when his car approached the lights and slowed down, one teenager leaned over and yelled at my brother, ‘You P**i b*****d’.
“It really hit me just how hard and horrible it can be being a police officer. I asked my brother why the police spent so much time in that neighbourhood given they clearly weren’t welcome. He said: ‘It’s where we’re needed most’.
“Only five words, but it have summed up for me everything that makes our police officers so special.
“That sense of duty is what drives you in everything that you do. From physically taking on violent criminals, to breaking bad news to bereaved families. From handling tragedies like Grenfell, to providing security and peace of mind at events like the royal wedding. You are there.
“There is no greater testament to your bravery and the honour of police than the roll call of those who have fallen in the line of duty in the past year.
“We are deeply indebted to these officers who made the ultimate sacrifice serving the public.
“I see the police as one of the institutions we can be – and are – most proud of in our country. But I’m not arrogant enough to stand here today, after three weeks in the job, and tell you how to do yours.
“What I will say is that I am listening and that I do get it. There’s increased demand.
“Traditional crime is down by a third since 2010 – a big credit to your hard work. But more crimes – like hate crimes and sexual offences – are being reported than ever before. There’s also been a recent increase in serious violence, including homicides, knife and gun crime. I am absolutely determined to put an end to the appalling violence that is terminating young lives so soon.
“The threat from terrorism has also escalated and evolved. And crime is increasingly taking place online. The internet has emboldened criminals to break the law in horrifying ways, with platforms that enable dangerous crimes and appalling abuse.
“Since becoming home secretary, I’ve spoken to frontline officers about your experiences of crime and policing. You’ve told me that you feel stretched, overburdened and not sufficiently rewarded.
“I know how frustrating it is when your days off get cancelled at very short notice. And I know your work can take its toll on your mental and physical health. You deserve to be respected and valued, but all too often what you get is abuse.
“So let me say this. I want you to have the resources that you need. I recognise that we need to prioritise public investment in policing.
“We’re giving PCCs the flexibility to increase council tax contributions to policing. This has helped deliver a £460 million increase in total police funding this year. We’re now investing over £1 billion more in policing than we did three years ago, including money raised through council tax.
“But we need to think more about the long-term funding of the police.
“So, my pledge to you is this – I will prioritise police funding in the Spending Review next year.
“But this isn’t all about money. And as you have rightly said, throughout this conference, we need to protect the protectors. The government has already pledged £7.5m for a new national police welfare service – it is a step, one step, in the right direction.
“When you’re out in public trying to do your duty, you should be protected. That’s why I’m backing the Assaults on Emergency Workers Bill which will include tougher penalties for those who attack police officers and other emergency service workers. That’s why I’m supporting changes to the rules on police pursuits. To make it clear that a criminal is responsible for their decision to drive recklessly, not the police.
“That’s why I’m making sure that you have the right kit and the right technology to do your jobs effectively. It makes no sense that where many of you change your personal mobiles every two years, at work you’re using some technology that dates back to the 1990s.
“That’s why we’ve recently improved fingerprint technology which will allow officers across the country to use smart phones to identify people faster than ever before. That’s why I also support the roll-out of body-worn cameras which not only capture the evidence first hand but has also made people think twice before assaulting you. And I fully support those officers who want better protective equipment like spit and bite guards.
“I find it absolutely ridiculous that anyone should object to you restraining those who physically abuse you. Tasers are also an important tactical option for officers dealing with the most serious and violent criminals.
“But you don’t just need kit – you need powers. I will be bringing forward new laws which will make it harder than ever before to buy and possess guns, knives and acid.
“Some of you don’t feel comfortable with stop and search. That’s not how it should be. I have confidence in your professional judgement. Let me be clear, I support the use of stop and search. You have to do your job and that means protecting everyone.
“Evidence shows that if you’re black, you’re more likely to be a homicide victim than any other ethnic group. If stop and search can mean saving lives from the communities most affected, then of course it has to be right.
“I am new to my job. I don’t claim to be a policing expert and I’m not going to claim to have all the answers. But as much as possible, I want to hear about your experiences working on the frontline.
“I’ll also be setting up a much more formal frontline review to get your feedback and learn what you really think. Your ideas and responses will inform what actually happens in policing.
“It’s often said that British policing is the envy of the world. Everyone in this room wants to keep it that way.
“Let’s reset the relationship between the government and the police. I will give you the tools, the powers and the back-up you need to get the job done. For those of you who stand on the frontline, be in no doubt, I will be standing with you.”
- Excerpts from Sajid Javid’s speech to the Police Federation on the government’s relationship with the police in Birmingham last Wednesday (23).
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