Home Secretary Sajid Javid has recently announced that police officers in Staffordshire will be given protection in and out of the job through a Police Covenant – after Government listened to demands from a campaign supported by Jeremy.
Jeremy was one of 60 Conservative MPs backing a ‘Blue Collar Conservatism’ campaign calling on the next Prime Minister introduce a Covenant, which would include measures to protect mental health of serving and retired officers, equip officers with the right resources and necessary powers to do the job. It had won the backing of all 19 Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners up and down the country, the Police Superintendents’ Association and from the Chair of the Police Federation of England.
Commenting, Jeremy said: “I’m delighted the government is introducing a Police Covenant. We ask the police to take risks like no other part of the public sector and a new Police Covenant will show that we recognise this. It will enshrine the nation's gratitude to the police for the dangerous work they do by ensuring that we pay and treat them properly, during and after their service, delivering positive results for our police and for the communities they work tirelessly to keep safe.”
The call for the Covenant was part of the ‘Blue Collar Conservatism’ agenda, a group focused on talking and listening to regular voters about what they want to see government deliver on.
The Home Secretary said a Police Covenant would recognise the bravery and commitment of police officers. He said: “I’m pleased to announce that the Government plans to introduce a Police Covenant to provide the support the police so richly deserve. This will be a pledge to do more as a nation to help those who serve this country. It will ensure the sacrifice made by the police is properly recognised. I’m in awe of every officer who plays their part in keeping this country safe. Rest assured, the Government has your back – and the Police Covenant will make sure of that.”
A consultation will now take place on the principle and scope of the Police Covenant.