Police covenant will become law

16 September 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott says plans to create a Police Covenant will recognise the unique role of officers and staff and will improve support and protection for them.

Jon welcomed an announcement by Home Secretary Priti Patel at the Police Superintendents’ Association annual conference that a Police Covenant will be introduced in legislation.

He said: “Policing is a unique job. Our members put themselves in harm’s way every day to support and protect the public.

“It’s only right that officers, police staff, former colleagues and their families are given the support and protection they deserve.

“As a Federation, we’ve been campaigning for a covenant that recognises the role we have in society, so it’s pleasing to see it take another step towards becoming a reality,” he added.

The covenant applies to serving and former police personnel and creates a statutory duty for forces to support police officers.

It will focus on protection, health and wellbeing, and support for families, and places

It follows a campaign by the national Federation which included a public consultation process that found more than 90 per cent of respondents backed Government plans for a covenant.