Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner succeeds in getting Police Covenant into law to protect and support officers

Lincolnshire’s Poice and Crime Commissioner has succeeded in his campaign to get the Government to enshrine a new covenant in law to enhance support and protection for the police.
Lincolnshire PCC Marc Hones (centre) in London as the new Police Covenant is made law. EMN-201009-152647001Lincolnshire PCC Marc Hones (centre) in London as the new Police Covenant is made law. EMN-201009-152647001
Lincolnshire PCC Marc Hones (centre) in London as the new Police Covenant is made law. EMN-201009-152647001

The Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced the move today (Thursday) in a virtual speech to the Police Superintendents’ Association.

The Government proposals to implement the Covenant include:

• Enshrining a Police Covenant in law, creating a statutory duty to do more to support the police

Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones speaking to MPs in London. EMN-201009-152636001Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones speaking to MPs in London. EMN-201009-152636001
Lincolnshire PCC Marc Jones speaking to MPs in London. EMN-201009-152636001
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• Placing a requirement on the Home Secretary to report annually to Parliament on progress with the Covenant

• Ensuring the Covenant applies to all those working within or retired from policing roles, whether paid or as a volunteer

• Putting the initial focus of the covenant on physical protection, health and wellbeing, as well as support for families

• Implementing a new governance structure to drive forward activity on wellbeing and protection to fulfil the covenant.

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PCC Marc Jones has been a vocal advocate of the covenant. He has raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, joined with the National Chairman of the Police Federation John Apter to speak to MPs in Parliament and spoke recently with the Home Secretary in Scotland in support of the move to support all serving or former police personnel.

The Home Office’s decision comes after the results of a consultation, launched earlier this year, were released which found more than 90 per cent of respondents backed a Police Covenant.

There have also been calls to even tougher sentencing for those who attack or kill an emergency worker after a notable increase in recent years in the number of assaults on police.

“I am absolutely delighted at today’s announcement. I have been a strong supporter of the Police Covenant and wholeheartedly support the Home Secretary’s decision to enshrine it in law,” said Mr Jones.

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“Our residents, and the nation as a whole, owe these officers a huge debt of gratitude and the covenant is an important step in acknowledging that.”

Phil Clark, chairman of Lincolnshire Police Federation, said: “The Police Federation has been proud to fight alongside the PCC to support the calls for a police covenant.

“The introduction is a very welcome step and rightly recognises the fact that officers play a unique role in society by putting their lives on the line to protect our communities.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel commented: “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.

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“I will put the Police Covenant in law to ensure they will always have the support of the nation.”

The Police Covenant marks the latest step in the Government’s campaign to back the police with more resources, powers and protections.

Other steps include:

• The biggest funding boost for the policing system in a decade, with up to £1.1 billion more going towards the police compared to last year

• The recruitment of 20,000 additional officers over the next three years – over 4,300 of whom have already joined police forces across England and Wales

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• Expanded stop and search powers which have empowered over 8,000 more officers to use them, and increased levels of stop and search which have resulted in more arrests – over 58,000 in the last year alone

• A consultation on doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting police officers and other emergency service workers.