Brummie Bugle!
Free taxis home for weary West Midlands Police officers
Oct 6 2008
WEARY police officers could soon be chauffeured home in free taxis after completing a night shift to avoid fatal motoring accidents.
And West Midlands cops would also be offered a cab back to the station to collect their cars after catching up on their sleep.
Force bosses would pay for the free rides out of their existing budget – and they are also considering shelling out on energy sweets for drowsy officers.
They say the measures are needed after research revealed that 17 officers in England and Wales have been killed while driving home from night shifts since 2003.
West Midlands Police Federation Chairman Inspector Andy Gilbert is backing the controversial plans and said: “It’s a big issue. If 17 officers had been shot, we would all be armed by now.
Supportive
“The senior management team has been really supportive in this – it’s a joint effort.
“There is a mind-set now that we have to look after people who are working nights and make sure they are not driving home tired.”
Yet similar schemes are not being considered for other emergency service night shift workers. The Fire Brigades Union and Unison, which represents nurses and ambulance workers, said there are concerns for night shift workers but free taxi accounts were not currently being considered.
And the Taxpayers’ Alliance believes that any cash the force may spend on free taxis would be better used fighting crime.
Spokesman Mark Wallace said: “There has got to be serious questions asked about what should be the top priorities for West Midlands Police.
“The fact is that too many people are getting away with crimes and detection rates are still low.
“Every penny that’s spent on taxis could be spent on frontline policing.
“It’s hard to imagine that ordinary police officers who do not get enough of a pay rise from the Government would be happy for money to be spent on taxis and energy sweets.”
The Police Review magazine had highlighted the research into night shift deaths. They included Pc Stacey Pyke, 20, who died in a head-on collision after falling asleep at the wheel following her night shift for Lincolnshire Police in January 2007.
As well as free cab rides and energy sweets, Insp Gilbert said the West Midlands force is also looking at reducing extensive overtime.
“Officers can currently stay up to eight hours late at work, but the force is now looking to cap this at two hours,’’ he said.
“Student officers and other officers who are not used to night working are also to have their first few shifts staggered to enable their bodies to get used to the hours.’’
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Research shows that in recent years a total of 17 police officers nationally have died while travelling home after night shifts, some of these tours of duty had been heavily extended for operational reasons.
“The Police Federation has taken this up with police forces nationally as a matter of concern.
“The force and the Federation are working together to develop a policy aimed at minimising the risks to tired officers in such circumstances
“This liaison is ongoing and a number of proposed options are being considered, although no final decisions have been taken at this stage.”
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