Daily Express

My brother’s a cop, I back you all the way Javid will tell police

- By Alison Little Deputy Political Editor

HOME Secretary Sajid Javid will promise rank-and-file police today that he is “standing with them” and will provide what they need to do their jobs.

He will say his brother’s experience as an officer has made him acutely aware of the injuries and abuse that the police regularly suffer while on duty and how “hard and horrible” their jobs can be.

His speech to the Police Federation Conference in Birmingham is a stark contrast to the approach adopted by Theresa May when home secretary.

In 2014 she stunned the federation’s conference by vowing to break its power, as she denounced police corruption and “contempt for the public”.

Mr Javid, son of Pakistani immigrants, is the first ethnic minority politician to hold one of government’s four great offices of state.

He took over three weeks ago after Amber Rudd was forced out in the Windrush row.

One of his four brothers, Basit, is a chief superinten­dent in West Midlands Police.

Mr Javid is expected to tell the conference that his understand­ing of the importance of neighbourh­ood policing draws on his experience of growing up on a road in Bristol which a newspaper dubbed “Britain’s most dangerous street”.

Saying that this also led to his brother succeeding in the police, the multi-millionair­e former banker will tell his audience: “Over the years, I’ve heard what he has to say about policing.

“I know the tricky situations he’s been in. He’s been hurt more times than I want to know from being assaulted on duty.”

Mr Javid is expected to promise: “I will give you the tools, the powers and the back-up that you need to get the job done.

“For those of you who stand on the frontline, be in no doubt that I will be standing with you.

“I’m not arrogant enough to turn up here after three weeks and tell you how to do your jobs.

“What I will say is that I am listening and I get it.”

Recounting what frontline officers have said to him, he will add: “You’ve told me you’re feeling stretched, overburden­ed and not sufficient­ly You deserve to be and valued.”

Federation chairman Calum Macleod is calling for thugs who attack police officers to be jailed for up to 24 months, up from the current limit of six months.

The Animal Welfare Bill will raise the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty from six months to five years.

Mr Macleod will say: “Officers are worth more than an abused household pet.

“It makes a mockery justice system.”

He will also point out that magistrate­s can jail criminals for a maximum of six months.

He will call on the Government to give the lower courts the power to “hand down more appropriat­e sentencing”. rewarded. respected of our

 ??  ?? Brother... police chief Basit Javid
Brother... police chief Basit Javid
 ??  ?? Backing... Sajid Javid yesterday
Backing... Sajid Javid yesterday

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