Police chief says recent criticism of officers is 'taking its toll'

Police chief says criticism over handling of Sarah Everard vigil and Kill The Bill protests is ‘taking its toll’ on officers’ mental health and left them feeling like ‘society’s punch bag’

  • Officers in the firing line in recent weeks amid concerns over increased powers
  • Violence erupted at vigil for Sarah, 33, in London and demonstrations in Bristol
  • But Hampshire Police Federation Chair has warned of impact on officer welfare

A police chief says recent criticism of officers has taken its toll on their mental health and left them feeling like ‘society’s punch bag’.

Officers have been in the firing line after violent scenes erupted at the vigil for murdered Sarah Everard, while hundreds took part in Kill The Bill protests in Bristol, which resulted in several policemen being injured and vehicles set alight.

Calls for the resignation of Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick swiftly followed the clashes in Clapham Common, where Sarah, 33, went missing earlier this year, while the scale of demonstrations against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill show growing concern over increased police powers.

Now Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoe Wakefield has warned of the impact of the criticism on the welfare of serving officers. 

Officers have been in the firing line after violent scenes erupted at the vigil for murdered Sarah Everard

Hundreds took part in Kill The Bill protests in Bristol, which resulted in several policemen being injured and vehicles set alight

‘It’s definitely been a tough time, and I think the first few days, particularly after the protest at Clapham Common, officers were feeling really low, just feeling like they’re constantly getting a kicking from the media,’ she said.

‘Then when you’ve got MPs joining in, it does feel like we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t.

‘The feeling is we’re society’s punch bag and not to have the support from MPs is really hurtful, particularly when they’re making judgements on a short video clip that’s been put on social media before the full facts are known.

‘As the days went on following Clapham Common, more came out about what actually happened, and there was a bit of a change.

‘We did then see some positive comments from MPs and then obviously following the Bristol protests the Home Secretary talked about ‘thuggery’.

Now Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoe Wakefield has warned of the impact of the criticism on the welfare of serving officers

‘So that’s more positive, but it shouldn’t have to got to the extent where I think it’s up to 40 officers that are now injured, and police vans being set on fire, for MPs to realise this isn’t acceptable.

‘When they are making judgements on social media with tens of thousands of followers, the majority of the public will listen to MPs, they will listen to their views, so it has a huge ripple effect.

‘The vigil should only ever have been about Sarah. What will people remember from all this now?

‘Unfortunately, it’s unlikely to be Sarah.’ 

Dame Cressida defended her officers for what many called heavy-handed tactics at the vigil, and said they had faced ‘extreme provocation’.

In total, 29 people have now been arrested in connection with the riot – which followed on from a peaceful protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

The policing watchdog cleared her officers of wrongdoing this week, as the commissioner described the policing of the event as ‘extremely professional and calm’, adding: ‘People should learn that police have a very difficult job’. 

Dame Cressida also hit out at politicians who criticised the Met’s tactics that night ‘without knowing the facts’, hours after the watchdog’s report rebuked the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan over his criticism of the arrests.

It came after a peaceful demonstration against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – which would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests – descended into anarchy on March 21.

Police vans were set on fire and the city’s Bridewell Police Station was put under siege in ugly scenes which resulted in a number of arrests and injuries.

It came after riots erupted off the back of a peaceful protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill last month – which crowds took part in amid concerns over increased authority for officers.  

The proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those deemed too noisy or a nuisance, with those convicted liable to fines or jail terms.

The latest arrest comes as officers continue to investigate assaults on 40 officers and one member of the media at the riot.

During the ugly scenes, police officers were injured, force vehicles were set on fire and the windows of a police station smashed. 

An officer later described first hearing on the radio how colleagues were being injured outside the Bridewell police station.

Since the first demonstration there have been three other protests in the city against the Government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Protests on March 23 and 26 ended in clashes between the police and protesters. 

A further demonstration on March 30 passed off peacefully.

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