Police driver legislation reform needs ‘swift action’

SWIFT, decisive action should be taken by the Government to provide protection for police drivers from the unfair prosecutions they can face.

That’s the verdict from Essex Police Federation which says delays to the bill, which would provide better protection for blue light drivers, is a can being ‘kicked down the street.’

Currently the legal standard of a ‘careful and competent driver’ applies equally to the emergency services as it does any other member of the public.

It means officers can be prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving – even if they follow police tactics and drive in accordance with their training.

“The can is continuing to be kicked down the street and at the moment there’s no incentive for the powers that be to take any meaningful action, to do anything about it,” said Federation Chairman Steve Taylor.

“They’re running a survey, there’s a consultation running, there’s a bill slowly making its way through the Houses. There’s no swift, decisive action being taken and that’s because there’s no real incentive for them to take it.

“The whole thing is daft and again we are not being listened to when we highlight these concerns.

“We are training someone to do something and then not supporting them when they do it.

All officers want, Steve added, is the ability to cite their training should they find the need to defend themselves.

“We’re not after a get out of jail free card – all this legislation allows us is the ability to fall back on our training and experience in these areas when called on to defend our actions.

“That’s not contrary to the natural laws of justice, it’s not an unreasonable position at all.

“We will continue to lobby Government and at the same time we should keep our options open as to what we can do to move it up the agenda,” he added.