Home Secretary’s pledge to properly recognise and support police officers is a positive, says Chair

ESSEX Police Federation believes a new Police Covenant aimed at recognising the special role police officers play is a ‘positive’ sign of things to come.

Speaking at the recent PFEW Bravery Awards, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the new covenant would enshrine the support officers ‘richly deserve’ and act as a pledge to properly recognise the sacrifices they make.

Mr Javid also backed PFEW plans to offer Special Constables the same protection as their colleagues.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor can see the positives in the announcement.

“I think [the covenant] is a positive sign. It’s a 180 degree spin from the previous position for the better.

“We can take a bit of comfort from that and hopefully it’s an indicator of things to come.”

Steve is also delighted that police specials are to be able to join the national federation.

“It’s great news,” he said.

“For too long our Special Constable colleagues have been right there on the frontline in Essex, dealing with exactly the same situations that we deal with, with exactly the same, if not worse, consequences, and with nowhere near the same level of support and guidance and protection afforded to them.

“It’s a travesty that they’ve not been allowed to join or that we’ve not been further along this conversation sooner, because they deserve much better than what they get, particularly bearing in mind just how crucial and helpful specials constables are in Essex.”