A TOP cop has been slammed by a professional policing body for saying officers should NOT be hindered by health and safety regulations.
Met chief Sir Paul Stephenson spoke out following the conclusion of the inquest into the 7/7 bombings which heard health and safety rules were partly to blame for the failings of emergency services.
He insisted health and safety edicts should not hamper cops in the line of duty.
But Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has blasted the Metropolitan Police commissioner for his remarks saying he is "extremely disappointed".
Sir Paul said health and safety regulations should not prevent officers from helping victims, like those caught up in the 2005 London suicide bombings which left 52 innocent people dead.
He went on to say that officers join the force "knowing they have to put their life on the line", adding: "Let's not pretend that the police work in a risk-free environment."
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he said: "I want my cops as safe as possible but it is a dynamic job they do. They face risks.
"Thankfully very few pay the ultimate price. Some get injured.
"They take risks, running across rooftops catching villains. I applaud them for doing that. I don't want to criticise them or to be doing a risk assessment on every occasion."
In response, Mr McKeever insisted health and safety rules did NOT hinder front line officers.
He said: "It is extremely disappointing to note Sir Paul Stephenson's apparent disregard of health and safety laws that are designed to protect everyone and in no way hinder operational policing or the actions of police officers."
Mr McKeever also said changes to the Police (Health and Safety) Act were unnecessary though he admitted some interpretations had led to "isolated anomalies".
He added: "All the major police officer representative bodies - the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Superintendents' Association and the Police Federation - agree the position that the Police (Health and Safety) Act in its current form has resulted in significant improvements in the health, safety and welfare of police officers whilst still allowing effective policing to be achieved."
Last year in the UK three police officers died in the line of duty.
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