Police elections candidate welcomes tougher sentences after attacks on emergency workers in North Yorkshire

These are the candidates in what may be tight race in police elections for Harrogate and North Yorkshire

Philip Allott the Conservative Candidate for May’s North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election, said he welcomed the Government’s decision to toughen up sentences for assaulting emergency workers, which will result in doubling the current maximum sentence of 12 months to 24 months.

The legislation will apply to anyone convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters, prison officers and paramedics.

Mr Allott has been campaigning for tougher sentences for assaulting emergency workers since before the general election and spoke to the Home Secretary about it in October 2019.

The legislation makes good the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment to consult on doubling the sentence, which has now concluded, with the new legislation happening this year.

Mr Allott said: “Being spat at, kicked or thumped should never be part of the job description for our brave emergency workers who sometimes have to put their own lives on the line to keep members of the public safe.

"If elected I will do everything possible to protect members of the police, prison officers, firefighters and paramedics. Remember this new legislation sends out a clear message that if you assault emergency workers you will feel the full force of the law.”

Home Secretary, Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, said: “Our police officers, firefighters and other emergency workers go above and beyond every single day – running towards danger to protect us all.

"They are our frontline heroes who put their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe, and yet some despicable individuals still think it’s acceptable to attack, cough or spit at these courageous public servants.”

According to the Ministry of Justice more than 11,000 people were prosecuted for assaulting an emergency worker in 2019.

Police statistics for North Yorkshire Police showed 36 arrests had been made in January following assaults on emergency service personnel.

In North Yorkshire one emergency worker is attacked every day.

Last month saw the Labour Party candidate in North Yorkshire's forthcoming Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner elections call on the Government to back the introduction of Harper’s Law, proposed after police officer PC Andrew Harper was dragged to his death.

Alison Hume said: "I am backing Harper's Law, where anyone guilty of causing the death of an emergency worker whilst committing a crime would be sentenced to a life jail term.

"The law was proposed by Lissie Harpey, the widow of Andrew Harper, a police officer who was dragged to his death by a getaway car driven by teenagers.

"His killers were cleared of murder, and received sentences of between 13 and 16 years for PC Andrew Harper's manslaughter.

"We have to do more to protect our protectors. They have to know when they go to work that we have their backs, just like they have ours.

"We have to send out a message that there is zero tolerance for those who attack police, fire and ambulance personnel.

"The penalties need to be as life changing for the perpetrators as their crimes are for their victims."

James Barker, Lib Dem PFCC for North Yorkshire, said he also supported the tougher sentencing for attacks on emergency workers.

He said: “I welcome this policy announcement from the Government, which is long overdue and which Lib Dems have been pushing for.

"Everyone has the right to be safe in their workplace, particularly frontline emergency workers".

Independent candidate, Keith Tordoff MBE said the move was long over-due but was worried the courts may not enforce the new rules fully enough.

"The announcement by Priti Patel the Home Secretary that the sentencing for assaults on police, fire, paramedics and prison officers is to be doubled is as welcome, as it is, long overdue.

"The emergency services put their lives on the line every day serving the public and it is unacceptable that they are subject to assaults in the course of their duty.

"Historically most, if not all Home Secretaries have publicly declared their abhorrence at emergency workers being assaulted whilst on duty and talked of tough sentences for offenders.

"Many police officers, retired ones and emergency workers I suspect will be saying they have heard it all before and will be sceptical as to whether the courts will actually use the full new sentencing powers.

"As the saying goes 'actions speak louder than words'".

Factfile: North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections, North Yorkshire, May 6, 2021

The candidates

Conservative: Philip Allott

Labour: Alison Hume

Independent: Keith Tordoff MBE.

Lib Dem: James Barker.

Looking back: Result of 2016 election for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

First Choice Voting: Conservative 53,078 Labour 34,351 Independent 30,984 LibDem 13,856

As no candidate won over 50%, the second preferences of the Independent and LibDem candidates were distributed to the two leading candidates, giving this final result:

Conservative 65,018

Labour 44,759

Factfile: North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) elections will take place on Thursday, May 6; the same day as the North Yorkshire County Council Elections.

PFCCs are elected every four years and are elected representatives who oversee a police force and fire service area.

There will be one PFCC elected for all of North Yorkshire.

The winner will replace the current commissioner Julia Mulligan, who has come to the end of her term.

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