PCC backs proposals for a national Police Covenant

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner has given his backing to proposals for a national police covenant to support and recognise the service of the police.

During his term as PCC, Lorne Green has campaigned for better protection for and recognition of the service and potential sacrifices of those who deliver our policing services.

Responding to a recent Home Office consultation on the introduction of a police covenant, the PCC called for proposals to consider not only police officers but also police staff and volunteers and their families, both during active service and after, when looking at the help and protection any covenant might provide.

“Every day our police put their own safety on the line in the name of public service. I’ve been very vocal about protecting our protectors and, while we have seen some movement with harsher penalties for those who harm our police while they perform their duties, there is much more that needs to be done.

“I’d like to see a national, consistent standard of support and protection for the whole policing family – officers, staff and volunteers alike. We already have an Armed Forces Covenant to recognise the service of our military personnel; I think the contribution police officers, staff and volunteers and by extension their families make to serving the public should be recognised in a similar way.

“From ensuring our police have the right equipment and training to keep them as safe as possible while carrying out their roles, to providing access to physical and mental healthcare to address injury, mental trauma or wellbeing concerns, the support to which they should have a right needs to be clearly set out in statute.

“And we must not forget the impact on those who support and care for our police when they return home from dealing with potentially serious, unexpected or traumatic events – their families. The impact on them, and the sacrifices they make, must be recognised too.”

The PCC has also called for accountability in the set-up of any future covenant through the introduction of a custodian role, similar to that of the existing victims’ and children’s commissioners, to determine and deliver a national plan for meeting the covenant’s objectives.

You can read the PCC’s full consultation response here>>