Jack Dromey: ‘a firm friend of the police service’

8 January 2022

The death of the Erdington MP Jack Dromey represents a loss to politics and the Labour Party but also the police service and police officers, says West Midlands Police Federation secretary Tim Rogers.

Tim was keen to pay tribute to the long-serving Erdington MP and former police minister who died suddenly yesterday.

“Jack was a firm friend to the police service,” says Tim, “He had been one of the region’s MPs from my early days as a Federation representative and in recent years, while I have been one of the branch officials, we have developed an effective working relationship which had seen him raise issues in Parliament on our behalf.

“Both while in Government and as a shadow minister, he would often contact the branch asking for our views on policing issues and just before Christmas had been in touch to discuss our thoughts on the police funding settlement and seek our thoughts on the challenges officers were facing.

“He will be a sad loss to the politics generally as well as the Labour Party specifically and also to the police service and police officers. He was always keen to ensure the police service was properly funded and that police officers were treated fairly.

“West Midlands Police Federation will miss him and I will certainly miss him too as he was very supportive of the campaign I have been leading to ensure that police drivers are given better protection in law. It is sad that he will not see the changes to legislation he supported come into effect with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is expected to be enacted in the coming months.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”

Mr Dromey, whose wife Harriet Harman was deputy leader of the Labour Party, had represented the Erdington constituency since 2010.

Tributes to the much-respected MP came from across the political spectrum.