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Police officer attacks: Chiefs call urgent talks on frontline safety | Police officer attacks: Chiefs call urgent talks on frontline safety |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A top police chief has urged the most senior officers in England, Scotland and Wales to come together to find ways to make frontline policing safer. | A top police chief has urged the most senior officers in England, Scotland and Wales to come together to find ways to make frontline policing safer. |
Martin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), called an urgent meeting for all chief constables to discuss officer safety. | Martin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), called an urgent meeting for all chief constables to discuss officer safety. |
"If we can't protect our people, how can we protect the public?" he said. | "If we can't protect our people, how can we protect the public?" he said. |
It comes after recent violent attacks on officers and the death of PC Andrew Harper while investigating a burglary. | It comes after recent violent attacks on officers and the death of PC Andrew Harper while investigating a burglary. |
The summit, which will be held in early September, will be the first time the chief constables have ever come together outside of their usual quarterly meetings. | The summit, which will be held in early September, will be the first time the chief constables have ever come together outside of their usual quarterly meetings. |
The top officers will share lessons from the recent attacks on their frontline officers as part of a discussion "to see if there is anything more we can do to tangibly improve their safety", Mr Hewitt said. | The top officers will share lessons from the recent attacks on their frontline officers as part of a discussion "to see if there is anything more we can do to tangibly improve their safety", Mr Hewitt said. |
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has also been asked to give its input. | The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has also been asked to give its input. |
Although Mr Hewitt said it was important not to have "knee-jerk" reactions to events, he said: "Levels of violence are an increasing concern across the country and attacks on our officers have gone up." | Although Mr Hewitt said it was important not to have "knee-jerk" reactions to events, he said: "Levels of violence are an increasing concern across the country and attacks on our officers have gone up." |
"It is the responsibility of each chief constable to do all they can to keep their officers as safe as possible," he added. | "It is the responsibility of each chief constable to do all they can to keep their officers as safe as possible," he added. |
Last week, Northamptonshire Police announced it planned to arm all of its frontline officers with Tasers. | |
Days later it was joined by Durham Constabulary, which said every frontline officer who wanted one would undergo training to use the stun guns. | |
Earlier in the year, Kent Police announced it was quadrupling the number of officers carrying Tasers to around 1,500. | |
Some studies have linked the increased use or presence of Tasers with an increase in hostility between police and the public. | Some studies have linked the increased use or presence of Tasers with an increase in hostility between police and the public. |
Ch Con Giles York - vice chair of the NPCC - told BBC Breakfast: "There is always a balance to be struck around how we equip our officers and still maintain that British piece of policing that is policing by consent." | Ch Con Giles York - vice chair of the NPCC - told BBC Breakfast: "There is always a balance to be struck around how we equip our officers and still maintain that British piece of policing that is policing by consent." |
Earlier this month, a police officer was stabbed in Leyton, east London, and two officers in Merseyside were attacked in separate incidents. | Earlier this month, a police officer was stabbed in Leyton, east London, and two officers in Merseyside were attacked in separate incidents. |