All police to get support

Patel to extend covenant and boost protection for officers and families

PRITI Patel is to extend the Police Covenant to ensure that all serving and retired officers are included in receiving enhanced protection and support for them and their families.

The Home Secretary launched the covenant last year, with the aim of providing similar statutory support for police officers as personnel in the Armed Forces receive from the Military Covenant.

But the support was only for territorial officers employed by the Home Office.

The new extension means that officers from the British

Transport Police, the Civil

Nuclear Constabulary, Ministry of Defence police and the National Crime Agency will have enhanced support and protection too.

A Whitehall source said: “Police across the country make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe and it’s only right that the Government stands behind all officers – not just those in territorial forces.” The decision by the Home Secretary, expected to be announced in the next few days, comes after she has publicly backed police officers’ attempts to ensure that the law is followed during the pandemic.

Ms Patel has also pushed for changes in sentencing which mean those who attack officers will get longer jail terms.

The covenant creates a statutory duty to do more to support the police and places a duty on the Home Secretary to report annually to Parliament on progress.

The initial focus is on physical protection, health and wellbeing, as well as support for officers’ families.