Policing the lockdown is a no-win situation for those on the front line

The death of Sarah Everard provoked a wave of grief, public emotion and revulsion. Nobody shared those feelings more than the country’s police officers, and I know I speak for all decent, hard-working, dedicated police officers in extending our heartfelt condolences to Sarah’s family and friends.

Indeed, I have no doubt there will have been off-duty or retired officers among the many who wanted to pay their respects at Clapham Common last Saturday. The event was an understandable, emotional reaction to a truly shocking event.

There has been considerable media and political comment on the policing of the event, some of it very harsh, often unfair. I would like to thank the majority of the public who understand the difficult and complex job my colleagues do, and understand also that the realities of the pandemic have added to the challenges we have faced.

Police officers do not operate independently of the law. They do not make policy decisions. They are dutybound to uphold laws and restrictions determined by government. Part of their role last Saturday was to ensure, as best they could, that restrictions were followed, so the public could be better protected from Covid-19.

The Police Federation fully supports the independent report into the events of that evening. Learning lessons has always been a crucial part of policing. But it is important those who criticise police officers try to put themselves in the shoes of my colleagues, who have been abused, assaulted and vilified far too often during this pandemic. Policing in the modern age is complicated, and keeping up with ever-changing Covid rules and legislation has been an additional challenge. I sometimes feel the public has a better understanding of this than the policymakers.

Last month, research published by the Police Federation of England and Wales showed just one in 10 officers thought the police powers previously introduced to manage the Covid-19 crisis were clear. This is not a good position for police officers to be in.

We have repeatedly called on the English and Welsh governments to stop issuing mixed messages to avoid further confusion when lockdown measures are lifted. We warned the Prime Minister not to repeat the lack of clarity over last year’s pandemic measures before he announced his roadmap out of lockdown.

Fair-minded, reasonable members of the public – and I know that is the majority – will agree my colleagues have faced an almost impossible task. At Clapham Common, or during the Black Lives Matter, anti-lockdown or the many other protests during the pandemic, they have been damned by some when they intervene, and damned by others when they do not. Most members of the public continue to offer my colleagues incredible and much welcome support. But policing the lockdown has become a no-win situation for front-line police officers who are trying to do their best.

Does the police service sometimes get things wrong? Of course it does.

Police officers often have to make split-second decisions in very challenging circumstances. Do individual officers sometimes let their force and colleagues down? Yes, just like individual politicians, journalists, doctors, teachers, footballers, you name it … there will always be people who do not meet the standards required of them.

But just as the vast majority of the public are fair and reasonable, so too the overwhelming majority of police officers are dedicated, competent public servants who take their responsibilities to their communities incredibly seriously. Despite the avalanche of unfair criticism my colleagues have faced this week, they will continue to be the first to arrive whenever these same critics call us for help.

We know that good policing is policing by consent. It is why we listen to criticism and constantly strive to improve what we do. We strive for clarity in rules and restrictions, because in building that consent, we are often the ones explaining what they are. We strive for understanding of the public, because without it, we cannot properly play our role in keeping them safe.

Though it has been a difficult week, I believe that understanding to be there, and we are grateful for it.

My colleagues have been damned by some when they intervene, and damned by others when they do not