Hull MP joins Humberside Police on the beat

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has joined Humberside Police on a temporary basis to get a rare view of what happens behind the scenes in the force.

Diana is joining Humberside Police for a 22 day attachment on the Police Service Parliamentary Scheme, and is the first Hull MP to join the scheme. As an MP with a strong interest in combating crime and anti-social behaviour, Diana felt that the best way to fully appreciate the challenges faced by the police was to shadow Humberside Police for an extensive period.

Under the terms of the scheme, Diana will carry out her duties over a three to six month period and will spend time with different officers and departments in a timetable designed to give her an insight into what life in the police service is like.

The national scheme has been designed to provide MPs with an opportunity to study at first hand the role of police officers and to understand the pressures that the police service operates under. Participation in the scheme helps to enable informed debate in Parliament on policing issues and improved knowledge both of the police service and the criminal justice system.

Diana has already commenced her work with the force, spending time with the chief officers and divisional commanders. She will complete her second session this week when she takes a look at the work undertaken by the Corporate Development Branch, spending time with the Diversity Unit and the team who provide behind the scenes support to the Chief Constable. Diana will then complete further sessions of five to ten hours each. These will include patrolling the streets with Neighbourhood Policing Teams, working with the Scientific Investigation Team and participating in night patrols.

Diana Johnson MP said: "With the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour a top priority for local people in Hull North, I am pleased to be spending time with Humberside Police to see for myself the varied work that they do and the challenges they face."

Humberside Police Chief Constable Tim Hollis said: "Diana joins us at a great time when the significant improvements in policing in the force have been formally recognised by the Home Office.

"We have much of which to be proud and Diana is very welcome. I'm sure that she will enjoy the time she spends with us and gain some real insights into the work of the police service locally.

"The fact she will be able to take that knowledge back into her work in Parliament is an added bonus."