Frontline police are losing the confidence to use their full powers after lengthy prosecutions like the trial of the officer who shot Chris Kaba, the shadow home secretary has said.

Chris Philp told a policing conference in Westminster that if the government did not make legal changes to provide better protection for police officers, it would bring proposals to Parliament itself.

He said: “Many police officers I have spoken to… feel that their reasonable use of force or other police powers is being treated disproportionately or unreasonably after the event, in a way that does not reflect and fails to recognize the pressures of dealing with an incident or situation. split-second decision-making, which is inevitably necessary.

“Some incidents result in lengthy and bureaucratic investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and even prosecutions, when common sense says this is not appropriate. »

Martyn Blake was cleared of murder within three hours by a jury at the Old Bailey last month.

Mr Philp also cited the case of PC Paul Fisher, who was cleared of dangerous driving after a crash on his way to a terror incident in Streatham, south-east London.

“We need police officers on the front lines to be prepared to take the necessary legal steps to protect themselves and the public,” they told delegates.

“We need them to quickly get to the scene of a terrorist attack and save lives.

“We need stop and search to remove knives from our streets, we need to use force when necessary to arrest suspects, and I fear officers will lose the confidence to exercise these powers as required for public safety. .”

Plans hatched to offer anonymity to gun-wielding officers charged with murder following line-of-duty shooting, and to raise bar on criminal charges used by police watchdog .

Mr Philp said he wanted the government to allow officers to use the fact that they were acting in accordance with their training as a defense against a criminal or misconduct charge.

“I think it should be a defense in both malpractice proceedings and in criminal proceedings, if an officer can demonstrate that the way he acted materially followed his training or standard procedures in the way he practiced. his powers.

“I think this will really help give officers the confidence to use these powers.”

He continued: “If the Government does not make these changes, then at the next opportunity, as Shadow Home Secretary, I will seek to introduce these measures as an amendment to the next Bill to be submitted in Parliament. »