Police Federation of England and Wales reacts to HMICFRS report on police response to COVID-19
Police Federation of England and Wales
The Police Federation of England and Wales have responded to a report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), based on an inspection of policing between March and November 2020, which says that although there were some inconsistencies, in general police forces took immediate and decisive action to respond to the extreme circumstances of the pandemic.
National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter, said: “It’s good to see that this report recognises the commitment and professionalism of my colleagues, who have done their absolute best during this challenging time. “Officers have been expected to police in a way that is completely alien to them, dealing with rapid changes in legislation, while at the same time being subjected to repeated and unfounded criticism. In normal times policing is complex and challenging enough. However, during this pandemic the additional demands and pressure on officers has at times been intolerable. Despite this my colleagues have done themselves proud in the way they have adapted to an entirely new way of policing; it is, therefore, good to see that this report recognises that.”
