South Wales branch chair Phil Walker has urged the government to work with the Police Federation to restore respect and confidence in policing.

Phil welcomed comments from the new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in support of police officers following the riots of the past two weeks.

And he said there was much that the Government could do to help restore respect for officers and policing in general.

Phil said: “It’s encouraging to hear the home secretary publicly state her support for policing and her desire to restore respect in the service – and the Federation stands ready to work with her and the Government.

“We need to ensure that the tough custodial sentences handed down to those convicted of involvement in the violent disorder continue for those convicted in the future of attacking officers.

“It has sent a message that criminal violence and attacks on officers will not be tolerated – and that is how it should be.

“We need that support from the wider criminal justice system to continue, which will help to restore faith and trust in policing.”

Assaults on police

Home Office figures showed there were 912 assaults on South Wales Police officers in the year ending 31 March 2024, with 255 injuries. In England and Wales, the figures showed there was a total of 45,907 attacks on officers in the year to 31 March 2024, with 11,479 resulting in an injury to an officer.

“In South Wales, there is an average of five attacks on police officers every two days,” he said. "It underlines the need to restore respect and to punish those who carry out such assaults.

“We need to protect the protectors and ensure those who do assault officers receive the toughest possible sentence.”

Phil added: “Another step would be for the government to keep politics out of policing. Policing is too important to be kicked around like a political football.

“And the government can send a huge message of support by working with the Federation on reforming the police pay system to introducing an independent award mechanism, and by fairly rewarding our members for the unique role they do.”

Ms Cooper, writing in the Telegraph, described the recent violence as ‘a disgraceful assault on the rule of law itself’.

Respect for police

“I am not prepared to tolerate the brazen abuse and contempt which a minority have felt able to show towards our men and women in uniform, or the disrespect for law and order that has been allowed to grow in recent years,” she said.

 “As well as punishing those responsible for the last fortnight’s violent disorder, we must take action to restore respect for the police, and respect for the law. From anti-social behaviour through to serious violence, too often people feel as though crime has no consequences, as charge rates have been allowed to fall and court delays have grown. That has to change.

“We will work with the police, rather than just blaming them from afar, to tackle problems and raise standards. And we won’t engage in the kind of shameful behaviour we have seen from some senior politicians and pundits who sought to undermine the legitimacy and authority of the police, just at the time they needed our full backing to restore order to the streets.

“When the police put on those uniforms, when they go out in the service of our communities, and when they uphold the high standards we expect of them, they deserve respect from every single one of us.”

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