Op Unity Is ‘Excellent Opportunity’ For Officers

POLICING this summer’s Commonwealth Games as part of Operation Unity will be a great opportunity for officers, with lessons being learned from previous deployments, Essex Police Federation has said.

Essex Police officers will be providing Mutual Aid to West Midlands Police during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August.

Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said: “Op Unity is a big operation, though not on the same scale as COP26. What’s really good is the fact that, from the meetings I’ve attended so far, they seem to have taken on board feedback from G8 and COP26, of all the things that didn’t go so well for officers.

“They’ve made what appear to be some really good changes to what officers are going to get – the accommodation, the food, and how officers are going to be looked after while they’re up there. This is all extremely positive.

“I do think officers are going to be really well looked after. It’s a completely different operation to the two last year, because they were around protests, where this is much more a community, family feel.

“It’s a happy event that everyone’s attending and the emphasis from West Midlands Police has been for the police to get involved in that. It’s going to be jumping back to old-fashioned community policing. I think people will go there and really enjoy the deployment.”

Special Constables are also being encouraged to get involved with the event. Laura said: I’m encouraging our Special colleagues to embrace the opportunity. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for our younger-in-service officers as well.”