MPs Must Understand Pressures Officers Face

IT IS important for MPs to understand the issues and pressures officers are facing, according to South Yorkshire Police Federation.

Chairman Steve Kent has plans in place to meet MPs in the region to do exactly that.

There have been some political changes in the force area following the General Election in December, but Steve already has a good working relationship with Labour MP Louise Haigh who has been a great advocate for policing over the years.

He said: “I’ve started sending some contacts out for MPs. I intend to meet at least one MP from every district in South Yorkshire.

“Obviously that’s Sheffield, of which I already have a decent relationship with Louise Haigh, so I’ve already got that ongoing, and then the MPs for Doncaster, Barnes and Rotherham.”

Steve says he will also be meeting a lot of Federation members over the coming months too.

He added: “From June I’m speaking to pretty much every cop in the force over two months on force training days where I’ll have half an hour’s slot, so I’m looking forward to that and hearing their views on the issues we can help them with.”