Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson has accused Nigel Farage of peddling ‘divisive, outdated nonsense’ after he called for ‘big strapping’ officers on the beat after branding Britain ‘lawless’
Nigel Farage has been accused of an “offensive” attack on female police officers after calling for “big strapping” officers on the beat.
Labour’s policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson, said female cops put themselves in harm’s way every day as she branded Mr Farage’s remarks “woefully out of touch” She accused him of peddling “divisive, outdated nonsense” that undermine frontline officers.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has also leapt to their defence, saying we “must not jeopardise our progress by diminishing the value and role women play”.
It came after Mr Farage declared Britain was lawless and said police should look scarier. He told a press conference in London on Monday: “I think society needs, you need just that tiny little bit of fear and I think that for people out looking for trouble, and if they see a couple of big strapping police officers, they’ll think, ‘well, you know what, this may not be quite such a good idea’.”
He said the public should be “maybe a touch fearful” of police in the same way children are of teachers. Reform MP Sarah Pochin went on to tell the BBC : “I never like to see two female police officers out together… I’d much rather see a great big strapping male police officer with a female.”
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In response to the remarks, Dame Diana said: “If Nigel Farage ever came to the Police Bravery Awards, he would realise how lucky we are as a country to have so many brilliant female officers who run towards danger to tackle violent criminals, and risk their own lives to keep the public safe.
“Week in and week out, they put themselves in harm’s way for the protection of our communities, and for Reform MPs to question their fitness for the job is not only offensive, it is woefully out of touch. Instead of undermining the police with this kind of divisive, outdated nonsense, politicians from all parties should be backing our men and women in uniform in the difficult work they do every day to keep us all safe.”
And Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the NPCC, said: “Over a third of our officers and around 40% of our chief constables are women, and we must not jeopardise our progress by diminishing the value and role women play in our workforce.
“There are no roles in policing which women cannot do, and the same exacting standards to qualify are met by all men and women who undertake some of the most challenging tasks of any profession.”
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