Martin is urging the two men vying to be the next Prime Minister to commit to giving Humberside Police officers a guarantee in law they will be looked after both in and out of the job – in the same way as Armed Forces personnel are.
Officers put their lives on the line each day to protect the public and they should be recognised.
He has signed an open letter to both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt urging them to commit to a Police Covenant, which would recognise the risks officers take, guarantee inflation-proof pay rises each year and set out how they will be supported.
Martin said: “The police have been asked to do more with less and while the police continue to deliver outstanding service, it is time to show them we are on their side.
“Both candidates have spoken about the need to increase resources but I would like to see a positive commitment. Since 2010 we had to make difficult decisions to rebalance the books and tackle the economic mess left by Labour. Since then, police numbers have fallen by more than 20,000 and we need action to make up the shortfall. Thankfully the Humberside Force has been able to recruit over 200 new officers over the last couple of years. That’s good as far as it goes, but we need to get back to 2010 levels.”
Martin said he did not want to see the contenders pluck a number out of thin air but setting out detailed and considered policies to support the service.
The letter was initiated by Tatton MP, and former Cabinet member, Esther McVey who leads the ‘Blue Collar Conservative’ group of which Martin is a member. The MPs believe committing to a Covenant would recognise the challenges officers face and the support needed at different stages of their career, and would also offer guaranteed support to those who have suffered physical or mental injuries as part of their job.
This week the cause was backed by the National chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter who said the Covenant was “an important step” towards achieving “further guarantees and protections for our dedicated officers”.
Ms McVey said the Conservatives have always been the party of law and order and ensuring the safety and security of the public must be the top priority for the new PM.
She added: “I’ve been calling for a Police Covenant for weeks which would sit alongside the one the Conservative Party brought in for the Armed Forces, and I’m delighted that the Police Federation has backed the idea and that MPs are on board. We all know the excellent work our individual forces do day in day out to protect us and it is time their hard work was recognised.”
“I look forward to working with the next Prime Minister to bring it into force swiftly.”
“The Police Covenant will show our commitment and gratitude to the police for what they do and it will support them once they have left the service.”
The move would promise police officers the same level of support and recognition already guaranteed to military personnel in the Armed Forces Covenant.
