NEWS
PPE GUIDANCE FOR OFFICERS SNAP HAPPY!
Police officers have been urged to familiarise themselves with a new operational guideline leaflet about personal protective equipment (PPE). The leaflet contains important
information about practical scenarios, details about stop and search procedures, how to handle contact with the public, and PPE measures for many routine situations. PFEW’s Operational Lead
Simon Kempton was closely involved in producing the new guidelines alongside colleagues from the National Police Coordination Centre, College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council. He now wants members to ensure they take the time to examine the changes to PPE procedures to help counter the threat of Covid-19. Simon said: “Since day one of the pandemic, your Federation has been involved in the development of PPE guidance, taking feedback directly from the frontline and making sure this was included in the support document issued to officers. “For example, we have made sure the guidance makes provision for dealing with non-compliant or violent subjects, because the reality of front-
Officers under attack
PFEW’s National Chair John Apter has appeared in the new series of Channel 5’s Police Code Zero: Ofcer Under Attack. The programme aired during August and
September and highlighted harrowing stories of assaults on duty, including a brutal attack with a machete and an ofcer being knocked unconscious in the middle of a road. Mr Apter tells the programme: “Far too often
I have seen police ofcers or police staf who have been badly assaulted and the defendant, in a courtroom, puts on their suit and their solicitor talks about how hard of a life they’ve had, and they walk away from court with nothing more than a smack on the wrist.” The show makes a strong case for harsher
sentences for those who assault the emergency services, which is the subject of the Federation’s Protect the Protectors campaign and has resulted in the Home Secretary announcing that sentencing will double to two years.
line policing is we deal with individuals in very different circumstances to those our colleagues in other agencies face, and our PPE guidance needed to reflect that. “We know that during the pandemic, assaults on emergency service workers have increased. That has included spitting assaults which are vile at any time but even more dangerous against the backdrop of a virus which has killed many thousands. “Covid-19 is invisible. We can’t see where it lies or hides. Because of that, it’s all too easy to inadvertently come into contact with it. Alongside social distancing and hand hygiene, PPE plays a vital part in keeping not just us, but our colleagues and families safe. That’s why the Federation has put so much effort into shaping this document. As we enter a possible second wave of the virus, knowing what the guidance says and
complying with it has never been more important.”
Members rose to the challenge when South Wales Police Federation Chair Steve Treharne asked for photos showing ofcers at work during the pandemic. Steve posted an appeal on the branch’s
Facebook page and was soon inundated with images. “We wanted a current photo showing our
members out and about, doing their jobs and maintaining front-line services during the pandemic for the cover of our summer members’ magazine,” Steve explains. “I put out the request for images on our private
group page early one evening and just couldn’t believe the response. I expected to get maybe one or two but, at the current count, we have around 60 photos. “It was hard to
pick just one to use on the front cover but we now have a bank of great shots that we can use for future editions of the magazine and also in other communications work.”
PC Theresa Sullivan with PD Amber. Photo by PC Darren Thomas (RPU East).
POLICE WILL STRUGGLE WITH VIRUS DEMANDS “There
Police will struggle to cope with the extra demands placed on them as tougher Covid-19 restrictions come into force, the Police Federation of England and Wales warned. From 28 September, officers have
been expected to take intelligence- led action against individuals who test positive for the virus and fail to self- isolate. This follows a Government announcement establishing a 10pm curfew for bars, pubs and restaurants in England. Our National Chair, John Apter
said: “As new restrictions come into effect, policing will be forced to prioritise. With ever growing demand and increasing pressures there will simply not be enough police officers to do everything expected of them.
is no magic box of extra officers waiting to be opened, and undoubtedly policing will struggle with this increased demand. Where they can we need local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive and other major agencies to step up to the plate and lessen the strain on policing. “The vast majority of people
comply with restrictions placed on them. These restrictions affect us all, and to keep each other as safe as possible I hope the public will carry on doing the right thing to protect citizens and minimise the spread of the virus.”
OCTOBER 2020 | POLICE | 31
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