NEWS
undertaken, however this would be done at the appropriate stage. “The Prime Minister this week outlined the Government’s plans for change, stressing their aim is to make public services work for working people. To achieve this, it is vital that investment in policing does not just keep coming from taxpayers’ pockets, as council tax precepts continue to rise year on year in many areas. “This draft clause holds the key to releasing hundreds and thousands of policing hours across the country at nil cost to police budgets and the public we protect. “Adopting this approach enables the Government to prove they are supporting policing by cutting the red tape officers are bound by. Stripping
away some bureaucracy will give back officers thousands of hours to bring swifter justice to victims and make our streets safer, which is what the Government wants, the public wants and
“We must see police officers back
within their communities rather than being stuck at computers, and our members being able to do what they joined up for; serve the public, keep them same safe and prevent and detect crime.”
police officers want. “We must see police officers back within their communities rather than being stuck at computers, and our members being able to do what they joined up for; serve the public, keep them same safe and prevent and detect crime.”
On average, since 1 January 2021, 365,000 policing hours have been consumed annually in redacting case files pre-charge. Victims of crime are also suffering. Almost half of police officers (45 per cent) who responded to our survey in 2022 indicated the number of victims that have withdrawn from active participation with their investigation has increased due to the incredible amount of time it takes to redact case files at the pre-charge stage.
An amendment was first tabled in both Houses of Parliament, as part of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill but did not complete before Parliament was dissolved on 24 May 2024. A revised amendment is now proposed in the Data (Access and Use) Bill.
FIRST ELIZABETH EMBLEMS AWARDED
The families of the first recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem received the award from His Majesty the King at a ceremony at Windsor Castle
On 10 December 2024, King Charles presented the first Elizabeth Emblems to family members of police officers and other emergency services workers who died in the line of duty. Included in the first publicly named group
are PCs Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone of Greater Manchester Police. Both Fiona and Nicola were ambushed and killed as they responded to a hoax 999 call, one that they thought was an emergency call for help from a member of the public. In 2021 the father of Nicola, Bryn Hughes, joined with the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) to launch the ‘Medals For Heroes’ campaign. The Federation along with Bryn and other families called for formal State recognition for emergency service workers who lose their lives while protecting others. The high-profile campaign included
support from various MPs and individuals along with families of fallen officers who are publicly recognised in countries such as the USA.
Such public recognition was already
in place for the armed forces in the form of the ‘Elizabeth Cross’. It is awarded quite separately from any other medal or recognition of injury or gallantry and the #MedalsForHeroes campaign called for the introduction of similar styled recognition for emergency service workers. In March 2024 it was announced that His Majesty the King alongside his government would introduce such formal State recognition in the form of the ‘Elizabeth Emblem’. Named in honour of the Late Queen, the Emblem is presented as a Tudor Crown flanked by a rosemary wreath. The inscription reads ‘For A Life Given In Service’ and the recipient’s name
is engraved on the back. Presented alongside the Emblem is a smaller ‘pin badge’ and scrolls of recognition can also be awarded where appropriate. Speaking on the announcement of the first 38 recipients, the Acting National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales Tiff Lynch commented: “I was very pleased to hear of the first recipients for the Elizabeth Emblem. We can not take the safety, security and wellbeing of our communities for granted. “Public service workers from all sectors
work together to provide essential services. These services are vital to the wellbeing of our society. However, sometimes our public sector workers can be injured or even lose their lives while serving others.” PFEW Medals For Heroes Lead John
Partington told us: “During the course of our Medals for Heroes campaign, I’ve had the honour of meeting a number of families who have lost a loved one on duty. Each of these individuals gave their very lives in service to their communities. “We were very proud to launch the
campaign for public recognition for fallen colleagues. I’d like to put on record my personal thanks to all those involved in the campaign and I pass on my heartfelt thanks and best wishes to those families who will go on to receive the Elizabeth Emblem.”
07 | POLICE | DECEMBER | 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
