OPINION: "We need both legislative change in Westminster, and we need MPs to lend their political support to Chief Constables to make spit guards available to their officers". Holly Lynch MP writes exclusively for Policing Insight on her work in Parliament and elsewhere in support of police officers' use of spit guards.

EXCLUSIVE: Today in Parliament, MPs will debate police officer safety. Holly Lynch MP secured the Adjournment debate following a shift with West Yorkshire Police, which opened her eyes to how vulnerable police officers are when single crewed. She blogs about what she's demanding of the government to ensure that officers are safe when on patrol.

OPINION: With increasing pressure on budgets, police officers are spending more time dealing with vulnerable people, and are forced to go on patrol alone. Holly Lynch MP was so concerned for the safety of one officer with whom she went on patrol that she rang 999 to get back-up for him. She calls on the government to support the police properly and to empower other agencies to take a lead on dealing with the vulnerable.