KEYNOTES FOR WHAT YOU DO’ ‘THANK YOU
Home Secretary offers words of praise and support while refraining from making tangible announcements
The highlight of Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s speech at Annual Conference 2023 was the announcement of a new 24/7 mental health crisis helpline for all current and former members of the police service and police staff. However, despite high expectations, the Home Secretary did not announce establishing a new award for emergency service workers who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. Acknowledging PFEW’s campaign, Medals For Heroes, calling on the Government to instate the award, she said: “I support your campaign for a medal for heroes. There is a consensus across Government that this needs to happen – and I hope we will be able to announce something very soon.” Much of the Home Secretary’s speech
was full of praise for police officers as she said: “Words cannot do justice to the debt we owe them, nor to how keenly we feel for their colleagues and loved ones.” Addressing firearms officers directly, the Home Secretary reiterated that the review announced by the Government to examine the laws governing police use of force will provide necessary legal support. “I want to ensure that when police are called upon to use force or conduct pursuits in the line of duty, officers are able to use their powers with legal certainty and clarity. “That is why I have announced a review,
to report to me by the end of the year, to ensure that the legal and operational frameworks in which they operate are robust and command the confidence of officers and the public. “I want you to know that I have heard
your concerns that you are not being treated fairly, and that processes overlap and take too long, “ she said. Supporting her stand of calling on police officers to follow all reasonable lines enquiry in all types of crime, the Home Secretary cited the example of Greater Manchester Police officers, led by Chief
Constable Steve Watson, who successfully brought the force out of special measures by following this approach. “Now, I understand that you as officers must make difficult operational decisions. But the public expects more than just a crime number. They want to see the police taking visible action in communities and thoroughly investigating crime,” she said. Hailing the Right Care Right Person
programme inspired by Humberside Police’s success and rolled out across the country, the Home Secretary said: “Make no mistake, mental health care really matters. This is about getting the right professionals to undertake the right tasks. “July saw the announcement of the new
National Partnership Agreement, which will see a ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model rolled out throughout England – having been thoroughly achieved in Humberside. “Humberside Police estimate that this system has saved them over 1,400 hours
Policing Board, championing police welfare and other frontline issues”
per month of police time, and similar results across the English forces could save around one million hours. “The police will only be expected to
attend mental health incidents if there is a real and immediate risk of serious harm or where there may be criminal activity. “Because, the truth is anyone suffering
a mental health crisis needs the right support in the most appropriate setting. That is not a police cell.” Acknowledging concerns raised by the
PFEW, the Home Secretary furthered on welfare of police officers and said: “It cannot be repeated often enough that you do a job that makes unique and enormous demands upon you, and I am determined that the Government does all it can to support you.
“We are grateful to the Federation for your support of the National
“The Police Covenant is this country’s
promise to you and to your families that we will do right by you. Its creation was a vital step, but it is only a starting point. “Supporting police officers is an ongoing project that requires constant vigilance, and I promise that I will always listen to you very carefully. “We are grateful to the Federation for your support of the National Policing Board, championing police welfare and other frontline issues. “Police Treatment Centres play a vital role in providing essential help to those of you who suffer physical or mental injury as a result of your service. “The Federation has raised concerns with the way Police Treatment Centres are being funded, and we have asked the National Police Wellbeing Service to conduct a review of the PTCs, to understand the demand on this service and how
to best support and utilise it.” She ended her speech by calling on chief officers to bring back experienced, outstanding officers who had retired and said: “Chiefs have the option to bring back officers after you have retired, under the NPCC Retire and Rejoin guidance. “Leveraging talent and expertise back
into our police force is highly desirable. I encourage all chiefs to think carefully about the balance of their workforce and make sure they are making use of this option to retain the experience and skills the force needs.
Watch the keynote addresses and Home Secretary’s Q&A on YouTube at the link below:
07 | POLICE | SPECIAL EDITION | 2023
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