Key Facts

• The Committee shall meet at specified times from May 18 to June 24.
• Oral evidence will be heard in accordance with a detailed table outlining dates, times, and witnesses.
• Proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee are scheduled to follow a specific order of clauses and schedules.
• The meeting covers the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
• Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt and Chief Constable BJ Harrington are giving evidence.
• Questions must relate to the content of the Bill.
• The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill aims to provide greater clarity and consistency in policing public order.
• The bill addresses balancing different rights, responsibilities, and risks associated with public protests and assemblies.
• The vast majority of protests across the country take place without police intervention.
• Over the past year, the Public Order Act has been used to impose restrictions less than 20 times.
• Police powers are subject to judicial review and legal challenge.
• Social media has changed how protests are organized and communicated, making them more dynamic.
• Police use social media platforms to engage with organizers and communicate conditions of assembly and procession.
• The Bill aims to provide clearer powers for police to impose necessary conditions on public order events.
• Public policy might diverge as the Senedd passes laws for key agencies like social services, housing, environment, planning, and childcare.
• Policing in Wales is an England and Wales matter while other local authorities are under Welsh jurisdiction.
• The four Welsh forces work closely with Welsh Government and local authorities despite different legislative frameworks.
• Steve McCabe is switching over to Minister Victoria Atkins.
• Discussion includes the police covenant applying to officers, staff, volunteers, current and former serving members.
• The serious violence duty aims to bring local agencies together to prevent serious violence.
• Clause 59 introduces a statutory offence derived from common law public nuisance.
• Steve McCabe chairs the session until 11:25 am.
• Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths represents over 1,300 senior operational leaders in England and Wales.
• John Apter is the national chair representing 130,000 officers across all Home Office forces.
• John Apter supports mandatory psychological support and training throughout an officer's career.
• Chief Superintendent Griffiths echoes the need for consistency in occupational health standards.
• There has been a rise in challenges related to psychological trauma among police officers.
• The increase of 20,000 additional officers is expected to help support victims better.
• A case in Hampshire constabulary highlighted the issue where a trained traffic officer was prosecuted despite following proper protocol during a vehicle pursuit.
• The current law does not recognize police training or the purpose of emergency driving, putting officers at risk of prosecution.
• There is support for evolving public order laws to address new protest tactics such as 'locking on'.
• Chief Superintendent Griffiths acknowledges the strain on police-public relations due to pandemic regulations.
• The four Es approach was implemented by the police service to address inconsistencies in enforcing health regulations.
• Consistent application of legislation through the Bill is expected to improve public order policing across the country.
• Steve McCabe addresses the inclusion of special constables in the Police Federation.
• The Bill aims to give special constables the same legal support and welfare support as regular police officers.
• There is no specific action requested beyond discussing the importance of these measures.
• There has been a 36% increase in inquiries to police charities regarding mental health concerns compared to the previous year.
• Chief Superintendent Griffiths highlights the significant trauma exposure faced by police officers, more than seen in the military according to evidence from Police Care.
• McCabe supports extending the Police Covenant to cover non-Home Office forces like British Transport Police and Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
• Steve McCabe asks John Apter if he has anything to add.
• The discussion focuses on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
• The session was concluded.
• No further questions or comments were made by Steve McCabe.