OFFICERS need to have the right protection at protests and their safety should be a priority, according to Cumbria Police Federation. After a police officer was left with life-changing injuries following protests by Manchester United fans at Old Trafford earlier this month, chairman Paul Williams says violence has featured in recent protests. He said: It s disturbing to see protests becoming a hub for violence and targeted attacks on police officers. Seeing the levels of injuries that officers have been subjected to when policing protests is worrying – officer safety should be a priority. Officers need to be afforded the right protection for the situation and that can be a fine balance depending on the extent of the protest, and the intelligence relating to the groups involved and the likely disorder.
Reps fury as police officers face abuse PEOPLE who abuse police officers in the line of duty will be met with the full force of the law, a senior union figure has warned. Jamie McTear, of Cumbria Police Federation, hit out after a man was convicted of racially abusing a police officer, saying: “Enough is enough.” He also spoke out after a ‘marked increase’ in physical and verbal abuse against officers in the county. A court ruled there was ‘no doubt’ that Barrow man David Gibney was referring to an officer’s race when he hurled abuse at the constable while being arrested.
Loved ones of an off-duty police officer who died in a road collision will be spared the anguish of a lengthy trial. Oliver Evans, a 27-year-old Cumbria police constable, died following a two-vehicle collision on September 16, 2019, on the A683 at Middleton, involving his motorcycle and a Royal Mail delivery van. Van driver Graham Ellison, 59, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday and, in a hearing in front of Judge Nicholas Barker, pleaded guilty to driving the vehicle without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of Mr Evans. He had previously denied the charge and was due to stand trial in July.
The loved ones of an off-duty officer will be saved from ‘the anguish of a lengthy trial’ after a van driver who had previously denied his careless driving caused the death of a PC has changed his plea. Oliver Evans, a 27-year-old Cumbria police constable, died following a two-vehicle collision on September 16, 2019, on the A683 at Middleton, involving his Triumph motorcycle and a Peugeot Bipper Royal Mail delivery van. The van driver, Graham Ellison, 59, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday. During a hearing in front of Judge Nicholas Barker, Ellison pleaded guilty to driving the vehicle without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of Mr Evans. He had previously denied the charge and was due to stand trial in July.