THE Protect The Protectors Bill has passed the committee stage in the Houses of Parliament, meaning it is one step closer to becoming law.<\/p>\n
The Bill aims to protect emergency service workers by increasing the sentences of those convicted of assaulting them by making it an aggravated offence.<\/p>\n
The Bill could become law as early as Spring 2018, which South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Zuleika Payne described as \u201cencouraging\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI was fortunate enough to actually be in Westminster with a South Yorkshire officer, just prior to this second reading [of the Bill in Parliament], what I found very reassuring and encouraging was the footfall that we saw that afternoon in Westminster. Over 60 MPs, I\u2019m led to believe, were actually in attendance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll in all, really positive and it just goes to show that with tenacity, dedication and the passion for driving a piece of work like this, what can actually be achieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an interesting piece of legislation in as far as, what was once considered totally unacceptable has become a norm, almost par for the course. So what we\u2019re looking at is introducing a piece of legislation to drive a message that it is not acceptable to assault a police officer or any emergency service worker.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe necessity for this legislation is apparent because sadly assaults on emergency workers occur all too often. This is why we\u2019ve had to work in this way and form a piece of legislation to protect those individuals, against something that was once completely taboo but is now sadly, commonplace.\u201d<\/p>\n