ACPO comment on health and safety legislation and policing

ACPO lead for workforce development, Chief Constable Peter Fahy, said:

"Some time ago, ACPO reached an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive on a common sense approach to the legislation which recognised the particular risks that policing carries and the fact that officers put their safety at risk to protect the public.

"There is still some concern among officers that their actions will not be judged in terms of the particular pressures they faced at the time of an incident but viewed with the benefit of hindsight in the cold light of day. They are also concerned at the length of time the investigations can take which can leave officers under threat of prosecution for many years. The fact is that every day, police forces see officers disregard their own health and safety to protect the public and capture offenders.

"The situations that police officers work in are fast moving, complex and require decisions to be made quickly. Police officers join the service to protect the public and we are encouraged that the Home Secretary has shown interest in making sure that the legislation does not inhibit the degree of personal commitment and self sacrifice that the public expects and officers want to deliver."

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk