POLICEThe Police Federation of England & Wales www.polfed.org

September 2015

Speakingout aboutstress

Why Sgt Ed Simpson is backing a new Mind campaign to tackle stress and mental health issues in the service

n Federation warns new round of budget cuts could leave policing in crisis

5 EditorialIgnorance on impact of cuts is ‘sobering’, say MPsLack of ‘appropriate adults’ to safeguard rights of mentally vulnerable adults

6 View from the chair: Steve White warns that more policingvolunteers won’t paper over the cracks in resourcesBravery Awards highlight the courageous acts of officers

7 Local Focus: Tom Cuddeford, deputy chair of West Midlands Police Federation

8 New round of cuts prompts Federation calls to look at ‘radical’ solutions to funding crisis

10 The Station Sergeant is... Declaring an interestDeaths in custody combated by Formula 1 team approach

11 Computer-based APP custody training fails to engage officers

12 Officers must take more development ‘responsibility’14 The Bigger Picture: Female officers head to Cardiff for

the IAWP centenary

16 Light at the end of the tunnelResearch by mental health charity Mind found nine in 10 emergency services staff and volunteers have experienced stress or mental health issues; now a new support programme is helping to challenge mental health stigma

20 Supporting women in policingAs women police officers from over 30 countries came together at the International Association of Women in Police (IAWP), Federation representatives spoke about what they do to support officers in the UK

13 Dogberry: the lighter side of policing

24 Members’ benefits

26 View from the sidelines: Clive Chamberlain, former chair of Dorset Police Federation, takes a different look at life

Nick O’Time cartoon

27 Sudoku

September 2015 POLICE 13

POLICE September 2015 – in this issue:

NEWS & COMMENT

FEATURES

REGULARS

p26

p11

p6

p16

Editor:Syreeta Lund

Federation House,Highbury Drive,Leatherhead,Surrey, KT22 7UYTel: 01372 352000

Advertising agents:Richard PlaceChestnut MediaTel: 01271 324748

07962 370808Email:richard@chestnutmedia.co.uk

Every care is taken to ensure that advertisements areaccepted only from bona fideadvertisers. The PoliceFederation cannot accept anyliability for losses incurred byany person as a result of adefault on the part of anadvertiser.

The views expressed within the magazine are notnecessarily the views of theJoint Central Committee of thePolice Federation of Englandand Wales.

ChairSteve WhiteGeneral Secretary:Andy FittesTreasurer:Martyn MordecaiVice-Chair:Will RichesDeputy General Secretary:Andy WardDeputy Treasurer:Geoff Stuttaford

© The Police Federation 2015Reproduction strictly forbidden unless by prior arrangement with the publishers.

Cover picture:© Mind

40 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

Ignorance on impact ofcuts is ‘sobering’, say MPs

www.polfed.org

Lack of ‘appropriate adults’ to safeguardrights of mentally vulnerable adults

September 2015 POLICE 15

NEWS n

After being branded a bunch ofwhingers who have simply beenscaremongering about the impact ofcuts to policing, it’s nice to know thatthere is an increasing evidence basefrom a wide variety of otherwhingers/concerned and respectedfigures to back up the claims.

This month a cross-party committeeof MPs decided there has been a“significant failure” by the Home Officeto provide forces with the supportneeded to maintain services in thestorm of budget cuts.

The report, released by the PublicAccounts Committee, looked at thefinancial sustainability of the 43 policeforces in England and Wales, and foundthat the department is makingdecisions about funding without havingthe right evidence to know how theywill affect the service to the public.

We have long heard that crime isfalling, it’s not about police numbers,yet a leaked letter to police chiefs fromCity of London police commissionerAdrian Leppard shows crime figurescould be 40 per cent higher than theyare currently shown in official figures.

The British Crime Survey has beenupdated to show cybercrimes andfraud, and The Mirror reported the letterstates there are three million morecrimes being committed than havebeen recorded in the past.

As there is much talk of having an‘evidence base’ to make changes invarious sectors of policing, surely thiswill make the black-coated Borg at theHome Office go back to their abacusand think hard about the devastationmore cuts would wreak on an alreadydamaged and demoralised service.

What about theevidence base?

Editorial September2015

Follow me on Twitter @SyreetaLund

Syreeta Lund, Editor

The Home Office is making cuts to policefunding without having the “skills andinformation” to understand how theyimpact on the service to the public.

A report released by the PublicAccounts Committee (PAC) this monthon the financial sustainability of forcesvoices mounting concern over theirability to fight crime effectively, as theyface plummeting budgets and are usedto plug gaps in other struggling services.

Meg Hillier MP, chair of the committee,states: “At a time of ongoing uncertaintyover future funding, it is sobering tothink the people tasked with makingdecisions about policing priorities mightlack the skills and information to dotheir jobs effectively. Effective policing isa vital public service that offers securityand peace of mind to us all.”

The PAC recommendations includelooking at force mergers, how funding isallocated, effectively measuring thedemand on forces, examining the impacton policing of cuts to other services, andensuring officers have the right ‘businessskills’ to manage forces.

Steve White, chair of the PoliceFederation of England and Wales, saidforces should not be setting budgets

‘piecemeal’, year by year, constantlylooking over their shoulders for wherethe axe might next fall. “The reportconfirms that current governmentpolicing policy is based on wishfulthinking, and not based on any real dataor proper evidence for the directionbeing taken and the cuts being made.”

Not sustainableThe Federation has been warning that

the 43-force structure is not sustainablewith existing funding pressures, and MrWhite said the system should bechanged: “The long-term financialviability of our police forces is in doubt;the current structure and managementof the service is simply not sustainable.”

This follows recent tense debate at theCommittee between Conservative MPStephen Phillips and Mark Sedwill,permanent secretary at the HomeOffice, over the government’s fundingformula for forces; Mr Phillips criticisedthe Home Office funding formula for its‘one size fits all’ approach.

A full copy of the PAC report can befound at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmpubacc/288/28802.htm

Evidence suggests there is a lack ofappropriate adults to safeguard thewelfare and rights of mentally vulnerableadults in police custody, says the chiefexecutive of the National AppropriateAdult Network (NAAN).

The Home Secretary commissionedNAAN to look at vulnerable adults inpolice custody; 24 forces in England andWales contributed to the report, whichfound that the main problems werearound “identifying who was vulnerablein custody, recording those who were,and the availability of appropriate adults”.

Chris Bath, CEO of NAAN, speaking atthe Police Federation’s National CustodySeminar, said the findings highlighted

those shortcomings, along with concernsabout using untrained family members asappropriate adults.

“There are benefits from the familiarityin personal emotional support but it canalso be deeply unhelpful. I would say therole of family members is in terms ofsupport and sign posting, but should sitalongside an appropriate adult,” Mr Bathtold delegates at the event this month.

The report, There to Help, found that upto a quarter of a million people who havelearning disabilities, mental illness orautistic spectrum disorders, do not havethe support of an ‘appropriate adult’while detained or questioned by police,despite it being a legal requirement.

60 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

Volunteers in policing is nothing new.Since the Middle Ages the method of‘hue and cry’, where locals pursuecriminals, has been used to helppolice communities until the advent ofa professional police service in 1829.

I’ve never been averse to volunteersin policing. In fact, I believe they havea critical role to play. But recent HomeOffice proposals to expand theirnumbers aren’t the solution needed tobolster police resilience.

Volunteers can be an essential,supportive part of the service, butplans to use them to replace theresources lost since 2010 underminethe work and role of the police. Theservice must make best use of itsresources, which includes deployingskilled volunteers, but only where itmakes sense and, critically, is safe todo so – for the public and police.

There are many ways in which thepolicing model can and needs to beupdated. But in proposing simply toincrease the number of volunteers, theHome Office is closing its eyes andears to the gravity of the situation.

Policing is a serious business. Whenofficers swear allegiance to the Crown,they vow to put the public beforethemselves. They run towards dangerfor the sake of others, and sadly somemake the ultimate sacrifice – a realitywhich will be brought home when wegather in Edinburgh this month forNational Police Memorial Day.

Recognition has finally been giventhat there are resilience issues, but the public and police officers deservea solution which does more thanmerely papering over the cracks – or rather crevices.

Volunteers can’tcover the cracks

View fromthe chair

Follow me on Twitter @PFEW_Chair

n NEWS

Steve White, chair of thePoliceFederation

An officer shot in the face by a gunmanbrandishing a sawn-off shotgun fearedshe would lose her life in the attack.

West Yorkshire PC Suzanne Hudsonsaid she felt like she was in a “warmovie” after walking into the horrorscene following a call to a complaint ofcriminal damage. “It was horrendous. Ithought I was going to die,” said theofficer, describing the moment she wasshot in the face, neck and hand.

PC Hudson was called to a flat in Leedswith her colleague PC Richard Whiteleyin the early hours of December 3, 2013.She went up the stairs that led to therear of the flat and knocked on the door.

James Leslie fired a sawn-off shotgunthrough the door at point blank range,and PC Hudson described how she“spun round”, but did not realise shehad been shot through the door. Leadshot penetrated her face and neck, andshe said her hand was left a “bloody andtangled mess”.

As she was struggling to breathe, hercolleague PC Whiteley, dragged her from

the immediate line of fire onto theroadside, where she then collapsed.

“It was horrendous. I thought she wasgoing to die,” said PC Whiteley, whomanaged to administer life-saving firstaid before radioing for help, shouting:“Shots fired, officer down.”

Badly injuredPC Hudson only realised she had been

shot when her colleague used the radio.Looking at right hand, she could thensee it was badly injured by pellets fromthe sawn-off shotgun: “My fingers weresplayed, my middle finger was at a 90-degree angle and there were pools ofblood through my hand. I felt like I wasfading out,” said PC Hudson.

As PC Whiteley desperately tried tohelp his partner, Leslie reappeared a fewfeet away from the officers, still armedwith the sawn-off shotgun. The gunmanthreatened PC Whiteley, shouting: “Doyou want some more?” He then pointedthe gun at the officer. PC Whiteley said:“I thought I was going to die. My life

Police officer Bob Ford risked his life topull people from a burning car momentsbefore it was engulfed by flames.

PC Ford, from Northumbria Police, wastravelling with friends to the Lake Districtvia the A66 at Threlkeld, near Keswick, onSaturday April 19 last year, when hespotted a huge cloud of dust, debris andsmoke above the carriageway.

A serious collision between a Mercedesand a Ford 4x4 had resulted in substantialdamage to both vehicles. While membersof the public quickly went to help theoccupants of the Mercedes – a male

driver and female passenger with childrenin the back – PC Ford ran to the aid of thefemale driver of the 4x4. She had beentrapped and was crushed and in pain, butconscious; he offered first aid andcomfort but soon heard calls from theother vehicle saying it was on fire.

Having left the woman with a memberof the public, he rushed to the othervehicle where the female passenger hadsuffered massive injures. Her legs werebadly broken, she was conscious andincredibly distressed. As he tried to pullher free the heat and smoke were intense.

Off-duty officer risked his life to rescue people from burning wreckage

Bravery Awards highlight thecourageous acts of officersThe National Police Bravery Awards honour the hard work and dedication ofofficers who put themselves before others to protect the public. The Awards takeplace next month; here are two more amazing stories behind the nominations.

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 7

NEWS n

West Midlands Police Federation hit theheadlines when it voiced its concernsthat sirenless Vauxhall Corsas werebeing used as response vehicles.

But going public with the story wasnot a snap decision and the Federationhad expressed fears over ‘blues but notwos’ to the force in September 2014and again in June this year.

In 2013, there were 32 deathsassociated with police response driving.God forbid this happens with a sirenlesscar and the inquisition afterwards.

Our members wanted us to make theforce tackle the issue and felt we werenot fighting their corner.

When the Corsas joined the fleet theyhad a specific role, beat work andscene preservation. That has changed.With the effective patrol policy andsingle-crewed officers, plus reductionsin our numbers due to cuts, responseteams are tied up quickly so otherofficers respond, albeit more slowly.

We had to speak out. Policing mustprovide an effective service to thepublic, but not to the detriment of thepublic or our colleagues. I’d rather findmoney for sirens than see a member ofthe public or a colleague injured orkilled, due to a delay in responding.

The vast majority of forces have bluesand twos in every marked policevehicle – why should we be different?The lives of the public and ourmembers are paramount. It is my dutyto raise this.

But we are not criticising the force, apoint I highlighted in media interviews.It’s highlighting the effect of police cuts.

These are difficult times but we havedone the right thing. I cannot allowsilence to become the norm; from ourmembers’ point of view, it isn’t right.

Blues but notwos...

LocalFocusTom Cuddeford,deputy chair ofWest MidlandsPoliceFederation

He called for help and went straightback to try to release her from thewreckage, as the flames now burning herlegs in the footwell. Struggling to breaththe officer made a last ditch attempt witha member of the public and managed topull the driver out of her car. The officerthen went back to the lady in theMercedes to help her out and made sureshe had the very best care before the airambulance arrived.

The officer showed immense courageand dedication, putting his own life at riskto save others.

Off-duty officer risked his life to rescue people from burning wreckage

Bravery Awards highlight thecourageous acts of officers

flashed in front of my eyes. I thought‘he’s used it once, he could use it again’.”

Leslie then rode away on his bike,laughing. PC Whiteley continued to givefirst aid to his wounded colleague untilan ambulance arrived. PC Hudsonunderwent life-saving surgery oninjuries to the arteries in her neck.

Chief Supt Paul Money, Leeds districtcommander, praised the officers for

their bravery. He said: “This casehighlights the very real dangers andserious risks that officers face as they goabout their routine daily business – ifsuch a thing exists – keeping the publicof Leeds safe. They are ordinary peopledoing extraordinary things out of asense of vocation every day.”

Leslie was found guilty of attemptedmurder in July, and jailed for life.

West Yorkshire PCs Richard Whiteley andSuzanne Hudson, who are jointly nominated for this year’s National Police Bravery Awards

PC Bob Ford ofNorthumbria Police

80 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

n NEWS

New round of cuts prompts Federation callsto look at ‘radical’ solutions to funding crisis Policing is facing a “potential crisis” as a depleted service struggles whilemore spending cuts lurk around thecorner, according to the vice-chair of the Federation.

Will Riches has welcomed calls fromthe Police Superintendents’ Associationfor Home Secretary Theresa May to lookat joining up public services to copewith any further proposed cuts topolicing budgets, as the service strainsto cope with protecting the public.

Mr Riches warned of a potential crisisfacing the police service ahead of thecomprehensive spending review inNovember. “We are seeing a policeservice which is struggling to cope withthe levels of pressure it is currentlyfacing,” he said. “Dramatic cuts tofunding, and the possibly of facing yetmore, mean we need to now look atmore dramatic solutions.

Model is unsustainable“We welcome a move to look at public

sector funding in the round as it is oftenthe police who end up picking up thepieces. We’ve long said 43 forces asmodel is unsustainable; collaboration isall well and good, but it’s now time togive serious consideration to thenumber of forces in England and Walesand whether that is still sustainable.

“The government is talking aboutsaving money through procurement ofequipment like police cars and boots – but this is small comfort to the publicif there are no police officers available to use them.

“The public are seeing fewer officers intheir communities as forces contendwith losing 17,000 officers in just fouryears. There is a widening gap betweenthe service officers would like toprovide, and which the public rightlyexpect, and the resources that areavailable. We are facing a possible crisis situation unless we look at moreradical options.”

Picture © Peter Anderson / Superintendents’ Association

Chf Supt Irene Curtis, president of theSuperintendents’ Association, spoke outahead of their annual conference earlierthis month, which was attended by theHome Secretary.

Ms Curtis said the scale of cuts facing policing in November’s spendingreview, coupled with the changingdemand for policing services, willsignificantly impact on the policeservice’s ability to cut crime and protect people from harm.

“The government needs to listen towhat people at all levels of the serviceare saying about the impact of theproposed budget cuts. If these goahead, then there needs to be a radicalrethink of how public services arefunded and delivered.

“If this isn’t addressed, then the nextround of cuts will have a fundamental

The importance of reformPolice reform has never been justabout saving money. Even withfinancial restraint, we can makepolicing better – better for you,better for the public you serve.

Technology and reducing demandWhen it comes to making financialsavings, police forces can do muchmore on procurement. Too oftenthe market is approached in afragmented way, with equipmentbought in small amounts and tovarying specifications.

Efficiency and collaborationI have always said that if forcescome to me with a coherent andcomprehensive plan to mergeforces at local level with localsupport, I would consider it. Butthe success of collaboration locallyshows that big, top-downrestructure is simply not needed.

Budget cutsIn 2010 I was told that policebudgets couldn’t be cut.Academics insisted that crimewould rocket. Chief constables toldme that public safety would be putat risk and public confidenceundermined. The Oppositionwarned of a ‘Perfect Storm’. ThePolice Federation warned of “Christmas for criminals”. None of that has happened. Our streets,our communities, and our familiesare safer than they have ever been.

Home Secretary’sviews on funding

These quotes are from the HomeSecretary’s speech to theSuperintendents’ AssociationConference. You can read the speech in full at www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretarys-police-superintendents-2015-speech

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 19

NEWS n

New round of cuts prompts Federation callsto look at ‘radical’ solutions to funding crisis

the 2010 Spending Review suggestingthe public would put at risk by cuts hadproved unfounded, and warned that theforthcoming Spending Review wouldbring more budget cuts and thelikelihood of fewer officers.

“As we approach this Spending Review,I have heard this generation of policeleaders succumb to the sametemptation. I have heard that policing is‘on the edge’ from senior chiefconstables. That budget cuts will meanthe police no longer fulfilling essentialfunctions. And I have heard suggestionsthat spending cuts could lead tovariations in the level of service and aloss in public confidence.

“I am afraid to say these claims are nodifferent to the calls I heard in 2010, andthey serve neither the public, nor thepolice officers and staff you lead.”

“The public are seeingfewer officers in theircommunities as forcescontend with losing 17,000 officers in just four years. There is awidening gap between the service officers wouldlike to provide, and whichthe public rightly expect,and the resources that are available. We are facing a possible crisissituation unless we look atmore radical options.”

Significant concerns have been voicedby both Superintendents’ AssociationPresident, Chf Insp Irene Curtis (aboveleft), and Federation vice-chair WillRiches (above right), over the impact ofplanned police budget cuts. But HomeSecretary Theresa May maintains thatmany of the fears over funding haveproved to be unfounded

impact on all public services. Almosteverything that the police deal withtoday has an impact on, a crossoverwith, or a root in another public service;whether that is health, education, socialservices, housing or something else.

Claims proved unfounded“Government cannot look at policing

budgets or services in a silo any more.We need to think differently about how public services can be deliveredbetter, in a more integrated way thatreduces future demand everywhere,”added Ms Curtis.

However, speaking at the conferenceMs May said that while police reformhad “never been just about savingmoney”, further efficiencies wereneeded to meet the current challenges.She told delegates that claims ahead of

n The HM Treasury set out expenditure limits and define improvements the public can expect from these resources.

n Cabinet ministers set out proposals for cuts in their respective departments.

n In July this year Chancellor George Osborne said that cabinet areas such as health and national security would be prioritised but other areas would have to make significant savings.

n The police service has lost 17,000 officers as policing has been subject to tight budget cuts over the last few years, and could face more under the CSR next month.

Comprehensive spendingreview – what is it?

Will Riches,Police Federation vice-chair

10 POLICE August 2015 www.polfed.org

n NEWS

Picture © Jaggat Rashidi / Shutterstock

My force, like many others, has recentlylaunched a crusade to get us to coughto spare time jobs. For some reason weare generally frowned upon when weseek to supplement our increasinglymeagre income worth earningsgenerated in our spare time.

The opprobrium with which thisnotion is viewed by those paragons ofrectitude in the media does not seemto extend to the rest of the publicservice; our mates in Trumpton, forexample, have done the same for manyyears, while our political overlords areseemingly bang at it with directorships,legal work and whatever else it is theydo when not braying and jeering in theCommons or working out which of theirduck houses needs a make over.

At least our force has taken apragmatic view, which is basically thatwhat we do must be legal, decent andethical; above all we must provide fulldetails of what we are up to off duty.

I suppose that they recognise thatACPO was a limited company and thebosses, by implication, have therebyembraced the concept of freeenterprise. Naturally enough, the taxpeople are kept in the loop as well.

Having accepted the principle, theservice might now take a bold stepforward. We need to raise additionalrevenue to replenish the coffers, so whyshouldn’t a force declare its ownbusiness interests, offering spare-timepaid work to its trusted and well-trained staff, while raking in the dosh?

Plain cars can double as taxis, taskforce officers could work the doors oflocal clubs, while police helicoptersferry the rich and well connected fromtheir homes to their golf clubs. Everypenny counts, after all.

Declaring aninterest

TheStationSergeantis...

Follow me on Twitter @stationsarge

Custody suites need to operate in a‘Formula 1 style’ and prepare for a hostof scenarios to potentially prevent adeath in custody.

Dr Meng Aw-Yong, medical director at the Met Police overseeing the delivery of the forensic medical service,said the key to success is about“teamwork, briefing, predicting andplanning for errors”.

He showed delegates at theFederation’s National Custody Seminarthis month a clip from Formula 1 wherethe teams in the pits can change awheel within seconds because of theirpreparation and skills.

Dr Aw-Yong, who sits on theIndependent Advisory Panel on deathsin custody, emphasised the importanceof doing ‘dummy runs’ to negate risks.He added that doing this in a prisonenvironment recently highlighted that a defibrillator was not working and no one knew how to let an ambulanceinto the premises – which couldpotentially have resulted in a fatality in a real-life scenario.

There are around 545 deaths per yearin detention, 92 per cent of whichhappen in mental health hospitals andprison. There were 17 deaths in orfollowing police custody for the year2014/15, according to the IndependentPolice Complaints Commission.

Flash points where deaths in custodyare more likely to occur included thelack of proper handovers both withincustody suites and between healthcareprofessionals and police.

Changing thinking“There is an assumption that they

(detainees) are ‘safe’ because they havecome from hospital; we need to changethat way of thinking,” he told delegates.

The Metropolitan Police use a custodyearly warning system (CEWS) sodetainees can be properly monitoredand decisions made about the bestcourse of action, such as getting ahealth practitioner involved if they have previous medical issues or havetaken medication.

Dr Aw-Yong said another key issue withdeaths in custody was restraint, andthat it was often safest “not to do it”. If detainees have mental health issues and are violent, he said:“Think about calling an ambulance…there are specialists on board who cannow sedate.”

He said that although official figuresmay suggest around 40 per cent of thosewho come into custody have mentalhealth problems, it often seems muchhigher and they are a higher risk groupwhen it comes to restraint.

Deaths in custody combatedby Formula 1 team approach

??????????

n NEWS

Met Police Medical Director Dr Meng Aw-Yong (below) believes better preparationand teamwork could prevent deaths in custody

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 11

NEWS n

Computer-based APP custodytraining fails to engage officersMany officers are not aware of latestprofessional practice in custody, do notknow how to access it and are fed up ofonline courses.

Supt Ian John, criminal justice andnational management lead at theCollege of Policing, spoke to delegatesat the Federation’s National CustodySeminar this month highlightingprofessional practice and the need forofficers to be up-to-date.

However, delegates questionedwhether Authorised ProfessionalPractice (APP) was well known byofficers on the ground. Eddie Entwhistle,from Lancashire Police Federation, saidthat many officers were not aware ofAPP, what it is about or how to access it.

Fatigued by NCALTAnother officer said people get

“fatigued” by training via NCALT(National Centre for Applied LearningTechnologies). “You can’t ask questionsof a computer,” he added.

Supt John said they are looking topublicise evidence-based APP as it will highlight key areas that custodyofficers need to be aware of, such as the fact that those aged up to 17 arenow treated as a juveniles – which canhave a big impact on resources incustody suites. The seminar heard howthere is also a focus on how custodytransfers children and young people,risk assessments, and the need for pre-risk assessments.

“When I talk to colleagues at HMIC theyalso want very firm and rigid guidancewhen scrutinising and carrying outinvestigations, as they can ask whatkind of training officers have had andwhat does the Authorised ProfessionalPractice say,” said Supt John.

APP is only guidance and says ‘youshould consider’ or ‘you may want to’.More rigid legislation is a ‘you will do’,he says.

“We welcome being inspected by HMIbut it is very difficult. You have to make

decisions on what is in front of you –using knowledge, expertise and makingan ‘evidence-based’ decision at thetime, at 2am, sometimes it’s notappreciated.

“APP won’t be something that at 2amor 3am will tell you how to deal with ayoung person with mental health issues;that is part of your training and skillbase,” he told delegates.

However, he said that when the policeare being criticised, risk assessmentsare carefully looked at, and issues suchas whether those in custody have been

Picture © Paul Doyle / Alamy

taken to the right place, or should be ata hospital or a place of safety, areclosely examined.

An officer from West Yorkshire Policesaid that custody is not immune to ashrinking workforce and increasingresponsibilities, and asked if minimumstaffing should be set by each force.Supt John said it was not for the Collegeof Policing to say that a force shouldhave a set number of custody staff, butit is the responsibility of the force tohave a formal written plan in relation tothe issue.

While the APP offers important guidance,many key custody decisions still comedown to officers’ training and experience

n NEWS

12 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

Police constables need to take more“personal responsibility” for theirprofessional development and have the“courage” to seek promotion throughthe fast-track scheme into the seniorranks, says the College of Policing’sprogramme lead David Coleman.

Mr Coleman believes those within the service needed to “up-skillthemselves to stand a chance with newcompetition” on the scheme, which isopen to both police officers and thoseoutside the service.

The next fast track (police constable to inspector) programme will be open to applications from serving PCsbetween 20 October and 20 November,and Mr Coleman says: “If (officers) are competing against those outside of the service, it should make them up their game against people with other skills.”

Successful candidates will begin theirtwo-year development programme inSeptember 2016 and reach the rank ofinspector by 2018 (those from outsidethe service will take three years tocomplete the scheme). It currently takesaround six years for an officer toprogress from the constable rankthrough to inspector.

Victoria Martin, who sits on the board of the College of Policing for the Federation, wants to make sureconstables already in service feel theirtalents are being nurtured too, as thereare plenty of “capable individuals”already in the police. The Federation is asking for the scheme to be extendedto sergeants.

Employment ethicsSpeaking to Police magazine ahead

of the next intake, Mr Coleman said:“Existing officers need to recognise thatthe face of policing is changing. Policingis beginning to align itself to theemployment ethics of outside industry.

“Not only are the opportunitiesnarrowing within the service, there isalso the potential for direct entry. Ifofficers want to succeed to the seniorranks of policing, fast track allows themto but there is a degree of personalresponsibility to make it happen.”

Not every force has adopted the fasttrack scheme, and the decision is downto chief constables, depending on theirneed. For more information, see theDevelopment pages of the College’swebsite (www.college.police.uk).

Officers must take moredevelopment ‘responsibility’

A regular rental income and a risinglong-term investment value can make abuy-to-let property an excellent option. Do your homework

It’s no surprise that low interest ratesand the promise of steady rentaldemand means that becoming alandlord has widespread appeal at themoment. But what do you need toknow in order to decide whether buy-to-let is the right investment for you?

Maintaining a steady stream ofreliable tenants is crucial, so considertransport links, schools and amenitieswhen selecting an area in which to lookfor your property. Try not to thinkabout the property as you do your ownhome; think about it from the potentialtenants’ perspective.Know the costs

As well as the purchase price, you willhave regular maintenance outlays, andsearch and legal fees for the purchaseand letting arrangements. Lettingagent’s fees could be an extra cost.

If purchasing a flat you will likely needto pay an annual service charge for theupkeep and maintenance of commonparts. There may also be a ground rentwhich might increase over time. Legal considerations

Tenants normally occupy a propertyon the basis of an assured shortholdtenancy (AST). Landlords must complywith a number of legal formalities,including immigration checks, so makesure you take appropriate legal advice;failure to meet legal requirementscould result to a fine of up to £3,000.

Any tenancy deposit must also beprotected within a government-backedtenancy deposit scheme or face a fine.

Problematic tenants can be expensiveto deal with so ensure you haveappropriate legal documentation andthe right advice from the outset.

Is buy-to-let foryou?

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Samantha BlackburnHead of Residential

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The breakdown of applicant details for the current cohort 1 (existing constables) for the fast-track scheme are:Total number of vacancies (37 forces): 95 Total number of applications: 752Female: 27 per cent Male: 73 per cent BME: 13 per centNumber shortlisted to AC: 123Female: 40 per cent Male: 60 per cent BME: 23 per cent

Successful at Assessment Centre: 61 (50 per cent pass rate) from across 19 forces(one officer could not be allocated a place so the number is 60).Female: 36 per cent Male: 64 per cent BME: 20 per cent

At 20 per cent BME representation is quite considerable, says the College, anddemonstrates part of the success of the joining process. Previously with HPDS (highpotential development scheme) nine per cent BME was the highest level achieved.

These officers will join the existing cohort of 38 graduates who joined the fast trackprogramme in September 2014. This will give a combined cohort 1 of 98 officers providing the following diversity.Female (40): 41 per cent Male (58): 59 per cent BME (17): 17 per cent

DOGBERRY n

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 113

If you’ve got a story highlightingthe lighter side of police life, we’dlove to hear it. Please send your

Dogberry entries to:Dogberry@polfed.org

Trainers bring a new meaning to foot patrolHave you ever taught yourchildren the value of walking in someoneelse’s shoes? How aboutwalking in your shoes?

A company called Goody2 Shoes is selling trainersthat resemble a police car – four wheels, stripes andlivery. Doesn’t look likethey have a functioningsiren or lights but theycertainly look the part. With austerity measures inplace perhaps they wouldcount as more policevehicles on the roads.

Picture © albund

Snorting pigs? That’s a porkiePigs with cocaine habits were the unlikely subject of a discussion at thismonth’s national Federation custody seminar. Dr Meng Aw-Yong, a forensicmedical examiner, spoke of the need for risk assessments which take intoaccount robust research on the impact of various medical conditions ordrugs so officers can be prepared. He said that research had been carriedout on how Taser affects pigs in the US, for example, but added nonchalantlythat, unlike people, “they don’t generally take cocaine”.

14 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

n THE BIGGER PICTURE

September 2015 POLICE 15www.polfed.org

THE BIGGER PICTURE n

Women police officers from over 30countries paraded through Cardiff lastmonth, to mark the centenary of theInternational Association of Women inPolice (IAWP).

It was a double celebration for theUK’s women officers as representativesof the service also commemorated 100years of women in policing.

Supported by the Police Federation ofEngland and Wales, the parade markedthe start of the IAWP’s 53rd annual four-day training conference, which tookplace at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

Constable Hayley Aley fromWarwickshire Police led the parade onbehalf of the Federation, alongsiderepresentatives from the IAWP andSouth Wales Police. Hayley, who is chairof the Federation’s equality sub-committee and national women’sreserve representative, said: “It is anhonour to lead the Parade of Nations onbehalf of women officers throughoutthe country.  This event helps showcasethe significant contribution womenofficers make to the service worldwide.It is a privilege to be a part of it.”

Chief Constable Martin Jelley, ofWarwickshire Police, said: “It is great tosee so many women doing suchfantastic work within the police, in ourlocal communities, nationally andinternationally. I am incredibly proudand delighted that a Warwickshirepolice officer has been given theopportunity and responsibility of beingthe Standard Bearer for the Parade ofNations at the IAWP conference.”

Jayne Willetts, chair of the constablesand secretary of the Federation’sequality sub-committee, said: “Thestatus of female officers in the servicehas changed significantly since I joined23 years ago, and this event showcasesjust how far we have come in the lastcentury. I am proud to be a femaleconstable and representative, not onlyfor the service but also for theFederation.”Supporting women in policing – P21

Photographs © IAWP

Female officers headto Cardiff for theIAWP centenary celebrations

16 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

n FEATURES

Admitting you are suffering from mental healthissues can be a tall order for anyone, but researchby mental health charity Mind found nine in 10emergency services staff and volunteers haveexperienced stress, low mood and poor mentalhealth at some point.

Police officers may be more likely to suffer fromstress but they are less likely to take time offbecause of it, says Mind. Nationally, one in 20police officers took time off sick in the lastfinancial year – that is 6,278 officers. A Freedom of Information request asked forces how manyofficers took sick leave for depression, anxiety,stress or post-traumatic stress disorder in thefinancial year ending March 2015. In 23 forcesthere was an increase in the number of officerssigned off.

The charity has been given £4m from the LIBORfund – money raised through fines imposed onbanks for misdemeanours and trying tomanipulate financial markets – to provide a newprogramme of support for emergency services staffand volunteers, including the police service. A Blue Light Infoline has already been set up tooffer confidential, independent and practicalsupport, advice and signposting around mentalhealth and well-being to emergency service staff,volunteers and their families in England.

Among a number of initiatives under theprogramme is the opportunity to become a Blue Light champion. These are the employees orvolunteers in the emergency services, who takeaction in the workplace to raise awareness ofmental health problems and challenge mentalhealth stigma.

Jayne Willetts, the Federation lead on mentalhealth issues in relation to welfare involved in theBlue Light Programme, said that many officers staysilent when they are suffering. “We have a lot ofofficers who suffer from mental health issues andare fearful of admitting it because they feel it is arisk factor in their job and they are not aware ofany support,” explained Jayne. “We can end upbeing the very last place they turn to for help,rather than the first. There is still a stigma aroundmental health and that is something we need tochallenge.”

You can show support for the programme byspreading the word on Twitter – follow@MindBlueLight and use the hashtag #mybluelight

Light at the end of the tunnel

Pictures © mangojuicy / Shutterstock

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FEATURES n

When faced with the grieving parents of a youngboy in a mortuary, Ed Simpson felt somethinginside him change. After 15 years as a front-lineofficer and seven as a family liaison officer,something had been happening that he wasunaware of. The job and the gravity of what hehad to deal with were chipping away at his well-being and resilience.

“When the mother saw the body she justscreamed; it completely destroyed me,” said Ed, ashe spoke to officers at the Police Federation’sNational Custody Seminar this month.

He said that his facade as a police officercompletely disintegrated. “She was just shoutingat her son, ‘why are you cold, what have you doneto yourself?’.

“I was vulnerable in that room then; I cried forthe first time as a police officer on duty; I criedwith the family and I cried on my way home.”

The 39-year-old officer from North Yorkshire hadjust had a baby with his wife and put it down tobecoming a dad and a police officer. “I thought Ijust needed to learn how to become a dad and acop. I went on to get promoted, I knew there weresome emotional problems there and I didn’t liketalking about that job. But little things wouldreally affect me. I thought there was nothingwrong with me; it was just that other peoplecoped better than me.”

In 2012, he volunteered to work in custody to becloser to home as his wife fell pregnant again. Bythis point he was in a spiral, “It was the endlessrevolving door of people coming in with problemswe could not solve. I am a caring kind of guy, Iwanted to carry on and just keep going, and it hadan immense impact on me. I just thought‘everyone else is strong and I am weak’. I fell intoself-doubt and I was terrible, checking thingsconstantly. I began checking records in custodythinking I had been responsible for someone’sdeath. I just took everything on, like a donkey,

‘Things just turnedto dust’Ed Simpson, former custody officer

“I wasvulnerable inthat roomthen; I cried forthe first timeas a policeofficer on duty;I cried with thefamily and Icried on myway home.”

18 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

If people have a physical injury they don’t carewho knows, so why should a stress-related illnessbe something to be ashamed of?

I grew up in Manchester and my parents divorcedwhen I was six; I didn’t see my dad again until Iwas 16. My mum was a lesbian so I guess themarriage was doomed to fail! I went to the localcomprehensive Catholic secondary school.Thankfully, I had some of the most amazingteachers who kept me on the right tracks. Eventhough I wasn’t aware of it at the time, and ofcourse there wasn’t the information about in the1980s, looking back I am sure I have suffered onand off with depression since my teenage years. Inever knew how to deal with how I felt so I wouldgo for long walks on my own. Only a couple of myteachers knew about this and they ensured I keptmyself as safe as I could. This makes me soundlike I was a loner as a child. Far from it; I waspretty popular with peers and teachers. I was verysporty so that helped.

I left Manchester at 19 to join HertfordshireConstabulary. I hadn’t had many dealings with thepolice, however I knew it was what I wanted to do.My probation flew by and I loved pretty muchmost of it, however I would have spells of beinghomesick. Not really for my family, but for myfriends. When I was about 23 I went on a new shiftand like most at that time I was the only female.This was nothing unusual for me because that isthe way it had always been, however my newsergeant was not overly impressed. I wish I couldsay it was because he was ‘old school’ but

n FEATURES

then got weighed down… I felt like I was a weakand rubbish dad and husband.

“I was driving to work thinking ‘I wish I wasdead’,” he added.

“I could just hear this white noise, 360 degrees. Iused to put my fingers in my ears, I just couldn’tswitch on properly. I think quite visually and all Icould see was a tunnel and at the end wasdarkness, I just kept assuming something bad wasgoing to happen.”

But on June 16, 2012, the white noise that hadbeen plaguing him for months came to an end. “Itwas just silence. I didn’t care about anything oranyone. Things just turned to dust.”

He had to take time out from work for the firsttime in his career, and it would be a year before hecould return.

“I had convinced myself I was the only policeofficer that had ever had a mental illness. Ithought, how am I going to tell people I amsuffering from depression and I’m not the sameperson anymore? I had two options. Whensomeone asked ‘Where have you been?’ I could lieand make something up, or tell the truth. I am soglad I decided to be honest and open.

“I’ve never had one negative reaction. Peoplereact with empathy, and often disclose that eitherthey or a family member or a friend has sufferedfrom mental illness. How stupid is it to think thatpeople who work in the blue light services, whodeal with all the bad things in society, are immunefrom mental illness? We are not, and there is noshame in that. We teach officers how to protecttheir bodies from physical harm. What we don’t dois help them to protect their minds and ultimatelytheir mental well-being.”

Ed now talks to new recruits under the banner ofthe Blue Light Programme.

“Because talking with a colleague, friend orfamily member might help process how you arefeeling, and prevent it from becoming that seedwhich grows and grows and one day erupts – likeit did with me,” he said.

‘Bottling things upreally doesn’t help’National federation representativeKaren Stephens

Organisations can sign the Blue Light pledge to develop meaningfulaction plans to support staff and volunteers. To find out more and tostart the application process, visit www.mind.org.uk/bluelightpledge

The Infoline is available by phoning 0300 303 5999 (lines openMonday-Friday, 9am-6pm, calls charged at local rates), emailingbluelightinfo@mind.org.uk or texting 84999 for a response from oneof the dedicated advisers during the Infoline working hours.

Advisers will look for details of help and support in your area orrelevant to your service. Unfortunately advisers are unable to offeran emotional listening service or counselling through the Infoline.

For more details about the programme, visit mind.org.uk/bluelight

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 19

unfortunately he wasn’t. To this day I don’t knowwhether it was because I was female or he just didnot like me, but he made my life hell at work. Hepicked on every single thing I did. The lads on theshift could not understand it either. At least once ashift I would end up in the toilets crying becauseof him. Obviously being a ‘tough northerner’ Iwould never let anyone see this side of me. Then Istarted not wanting to go to work and cryingbefore work at the prospect of having to spendtime near this man. At this time I lived in a hostelabove a police station which was 15 miles awayfrom where I worked. The trip to work was on abusy A-road and I began to think about what itwould be like if I didn’t take the bends.

I didn’t talk about it with anyone. I was in quite aserious relationship, but I never told my partnerabout it. I always kept partners at arm’s length as Inever wanted to get too close to anyone.

I finally went to the doctors and I was diagnosedwith clinical depression. My reaction was to burstinto tears and say I was not depressed. I wassigned off work for quite some time. The support Igot from my sergeant was non-existent; howevermy inspector and chief inspector were brilliant.That was after the initial shock to them; it wouldappear that no one at work guessed that I wasfeeling so bad. I was surprised at how good I hadbeen at hiding everything. Or was it becausepeople weren’t really looking for anything?

Just because people see you smile they thinkthings are ok; how wrong can they be.

Through my 24-year career I, like most, dealtwith all sorts of tragic incidents. One whichsprings to mind was the death of a child. This wasbefore I had children. But it was at the end of anightshift and we got that call everyone dreads, ‘Achild has drowned in the bath’. It was 05.50hrs sowe all thought it must be a mistake, butunfortunately not. A six-year-old girl who wasblind and had epilepsy, who loved water hadwoken up and instead of going into her parentsshe decided to try and have a bath. As she wasrunning the water she hit her head and fell in. Shehad an epileptic fit and died. I then spent the nextfive hours with the parents at the hospital.

Many of you may think that this is not an issuebut for some reason this death really affected me.I could not sleep because every time I closed myeyes I saw that little girl. When I went back intowork that night, no one mentioned it. The lads‘appeared’ to have just moved on. I couldn’tbelieve it. This was just an example of where I felta bit pathetic for letting things get to me when theothers seemed to be ok.

Bottling things up really doesn’t help. I havedone this time and time again. Many times my GPwould want to sign me off work but I would not let

FEATURES n

I was alwaysquite proud of the factthat mysupervisorssaw me assomeone whothey couldgive anythingto and trustthat it wouldget done.Resilient wasalways a wordused on myperformancedevelopmentreview.

them. I didn’t want people to see me as beingweak. So I would put my happy face on and justget on with it. I was always quite proud of the factthat my supervisors saw me as someone who theycould give anything to and trust that it would getdone. Resilient was always a word used on myperformance development review.

I have been on medication more than I haven’tover the last 20 years. And while I hid this from themajority of my friends and family I have got to astage in my life where I don’t believe I should hideit anymore. That said, I do not believe for oneminute being on medication has hindered mycareer or life. I wanted to become a detective so Idid. I wanted to be a regional representative, so Idid. I am married with two strong daughters who Iam immensely proud of.

I recently wrote something on social mediaabout my depression and was absolutelyoverwhelmed with the response. Not only was itsupportive but the amount of people who sent meprivate messages saying they too deal withdepression every day was overwhelming. I knowthe majority of these people are like I was andkeep it secret, but why do we have to feel like weshould hide this illness? If people reading thisthink that I am weak because of my illness, thenit’s them that I feel sorry for. I am a strong womanwho knows her own mind.

I am a regional representative for one of thelargest regions. I have always stood my groundeven if it has made me unpopular. But that is whatI am here for and I love my job.

The majority of us joined the police to helppeople – please remember that this does not stopwith the public. Look at your colleagues, makesure you help them too and when they smile, lookat their eyes to see if they are really smiling.

If you only take one thing away from what youhave read, please just remember. I don’t want tobe treated differently because I have been openabout depression, that’s not why I am doing this. I just want people to know that it is ok to tellpeople you are depressed and feeling down. Ifpeople see it as an issue, it’s their ‘issue’ not yours.

Karen is married with two daughters and is theRegion 5 South East representative with the Police

Federation and England and Wales (PFEW)

Other sources of help:Officers who make a voluntary weekly donation to Flint House, PoliceRehabilitation Centre, can also access specialist help:www.flinthouse.co.uk/psychological-support.htmlThe Federation and Police Firearms Officers Association Welfare SupportProgramme is aimed at those who have been involved in post-incidentprocedures: www.polfed.org/fedatwork/Welfare_Support_Programme.aspx

20 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

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FEATURES n

It’s the third time that the UK has hosted the conference, which was held in Cardifflast month, and which sets out to enhance skills through training, mentoring,

professional development, networking, peer support and recognition.Steve White, chair of the Police Federation, said the Federation was all

about influence because police in the UK do not have the right to takeindustrial action. He reiterated that officers were at the heart of

what the organisation does. Hayley Aley, chair of the equality sub-committee, and JayneWilletts, secretary of the equality sub-committee, gavepresentations to officers from around the world, some whohave virtually no representation.

Jayne, Hayley and Carolyn Davies (the inspectors’national policewomen’s representative) highlighted someof the key areas where the Federation has beeninfluential, such as shared parental leave, limited duties,fitness testing, health, flexible working, careerprogression and discrimination. They have workedwith forces across England and Wales to try to ensurebest practice is implemented as widely as possible.

Despite the proactive work the Federation does, italso has to provide vital legal backing when alloptions have been exhausted.

The Federation has increasingly representedofficers at employment tribunals. In 2013 this figures stood at 315 cases, 88 of whichrelated to sexual discrimination. The numberincreased to 385 and 97 respectively in 2014 and this year, to date, there havealready been 238 cases, 55 which relate to sexual discrimination.

Supporting women in policingAs women police officers from over 30 countries came together at the InternationalAssociation of Women in Police (IAWP), Federation representatives spoke about whatthey do to support officers in the UK

Pictures © Purple Marbles York 1 / Shutterstock

22 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

n FEATURES

Jayne joined when she was 19 as a Special Constable in West Mercia, and went on to join the regulars as a PC in 1992.

“I was the only woman on the team,” she says, working in the small market down of Market Drayton, Shropshire. “It was very busy, I was dragged between police stations for things like ‘holding a baby’ when mums came into custody, despite never holding a baby.

“I was brought in to do female searches or to deal

A recent example where the Federation had tostep in concerns a female officer in theMetropolitan Police.The Met Police v Keohane represents a landmark

case that has instigated a change in policy acrossthe force. Katherine Keohane is a dog handler, andreceived dog handler’s allowance for her role andresponsibilities before becoming pregnant. TheMet planned to remove both her dog (temporarily)and her allowance while she was pregnant.

An employment tribunal looked into whether thepolicy was fair or lawful. The tribunal found thatremoving the dog and not re-allocating it (to her)amounted to unfavourable treatment andKatherine was awarded compensation in respectof injury of feeling and loss of overtime income.

Not only did the tribunal find in favour of theofficer, they also recommended that the forcemust amend its policy and ensure that in future, ifa dog is re-allocated to another handler on atemporary basis through pregnancy, the dog, oranother dog, must be re-allocated to the officerwhen she returns from maternity leave.

They also recommended that the policy beamended to state the removal of the dog in thosecircumstances must only be done afterconsultation with the dog handler.

Speaking about the case, PC Keohane said: “Forme it was about the principle of the matter. What Iwent through wasn’t easy, and it took three yearsto reach a conclusion. I wouldn’t want any femaleofficer to have to go through what I did, and this iswhy I pursued my case.

“I couldn’t have done it without the Federationand I am grateful for their support through whatwas a long and difficult process.”

with any sexual offences or rape allegations.”Eventually she put in a grievance because she felt she was

treated differently and was being constantly moved simplybecause she was the only female officer. Although she wasnever moved back to her original station, things began tochange and Jayne was able to work on response,neighbourhood policing and as a traffic officer as one offour women on a 94-strong team.

In 1999 she fell pregnant and the force “did not knowwhat to do with me,” she says. “They took me off thefrontline.” She then asked if she could be a speed

How one case can influence wider policy

Why become a federation representative?

Case study – PC Katherine Keohane

Case study – Jayne Willetts

The ruling in PCKatharine Keohane’scase has led to achange of policyacross the Met Police

Picture © Guy Bell / Alamy

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FEATURES n

“I started tothink I wasn’tas good asother officers.It got to thepoint where Ineeded somesupport.”

When she began as a PC in Warwickshire,Hayley had a four-year-old boy and saidshe could not have embarked on hercareer without the help of her parents asshe worked a seven on, two off shift.Despite this, Hayley now balances her roleas a mum with a full-time position as aFederation representative.

So why did she become a Federationrepresentative? “I was bullied through mypolicing career as a PC; my line managersseemed to take a dislike to my face,”explains Hayley.

“I started to think I wasn’t as good asother officers. It got to the point where Ineeded some support. The local fed repwas a women’s reserve officer and I feltshe would tell me if I was being stupid, or I should just get on with it, but she said itneeded to stop and her assistance meantmy voice could be heard.”

More mutual respectHayley says the Federation representative didn’t

“make a big deal of it”, she just spoke to therelevant people and from then on there was a bitmore mutual respect. “I didn’t have the skills as ayoung-in-service PC, I felt it was all my fault. Yet, insome instances I realised the way I was beingtreated was down to a bit of jealousy… if shehadn’t been there things could have been verydifferent. The Federation does look after itsmembers and that’s what we are all about.”

Hayley went on to become a Federationrepresentative in her own right in Warwickshireand an equality lead officer. This experience gave

her the skills to represent members in amore informed way, she says.

Fifteen years on, she now has fivechildren and is married to a firearms officerand while she was still a PC, they bothworked on opposite shifts. “I was taking on more Federation work and theopportunity came up to develop my skillsto represent officers not only locally, but at a national level.

“It was a difficult decision as the roletakes me away from home quite a lot but Ialso wanted to improve on the amount ofwomen we have in the organisation.”

At a national level female representation stands at 12 per cent.Women represent around 28 per cent ofthe police service nationally.

“We want to increase the number ofwomen in the organisation so it isproportionate to the communities we

represent,” adds Hayley.

enforcement officer where she could help her colleaguesmore up until she took maternity leave. After just 11 weekson maternity leave, she had returned to work.

“I asked if I could drop a night shift so I could feed mydaughter in the night. Unfortunately, my supervisor said ‘no, come back full-time or lose your position’, so I was forced into an office-based job so I could breastfeedmy daughter.”

However, Jayne says she has always felt fairly confident inexpressing her opinion: “I am opinionated and I will speakout for other officers.”

She became a Federation representative and despitelosing her job on traffic, is now the national lead on roadspolicing. A single-parent, Jayne has a 12-year-old daughter,and says: “It’s very demanding; however it is also the bestjob in the world.”

Why become a federation representative?Case study – Hayley Aley

Jayne is now:n National Federation lead for roads policingn Chair of the constables’ national rank committeen Lead on mental health in the area of officer welfare

Hayley is now:n Chair of the Federation’s equality

subcommitteen Chair of the professional development

subcommitteen National women’s reserve

seat representativen A member of the professional committee for

the College of Policing and part of the PoliceFederation change board

n Learning and development manager for the Police Federation

24 POLICE September 2015 www.polfed.org

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Volunteer Poirots arenot the answer

View from theSidelines

The latest ‘wizard wheeze’ from the governmentseems to be to turn policing into the sort oforganisation where members of the public can justpop in and do a spot of voluntary work as and whenthe mood takes them.

Perhaps some will view it much the same ashelping in a local charity shop, or doing a spot of

investigation of cyber or financial crime. Is it acoincidence that cyber-crime has hit the roofwith the City of London Police Commissionerwarning that the real figures may be 40 per centhigher than previously recorded? Having got ridof 17,000 officers it appears that the Home Officemay be panicking as there are not the resourcesto deal with this.

The solution must not be volunteers, no matterhow many may be willing to pop in at weekendsor during an evening as a bit of a hobby.

The public pay for a fully resourced, trainedand professional police service. They have aright to expect just that, and should be lettingthe Home Secretary know that her plans aretotally unacceptable.

Nick O’Time Colin Whittock

You can follow me on Twitter @MrCliveC

n SIDELINES

Clive Chamberlain,former chair of DorsetPolice Federation

The solutionmust not bevolunteers,no matterhow manymay bewilling to pop in atweekends orduring anevening as abit of ahobby.

???????

lay-visiting at a cottage hospital? However,hospital volunteers aren’t to myknowledge expected to carry out any typeof surgery or treat the patients, whereaswhat the Home Secretary envisages is thatbudding Hercule Poirots and Miss Marpleswith some time on their hands caninvestigate complicated crimes!

Theresa May has said that “volunteershave a greater role to play in the policeservice”, but being cynical I suspect theidea of getting those willing to come inand work ex-gratia appeals to her, as morethan 17,000 officers have been axed since2010 with a further 22,000 likely to go, eventhough demand is still increasing.

The Home Secretary is lookingparticularly for free help in the

Hobby Hercule Poirots and budding MissMarples are not the answer to thereduction in police numbers

www.polfed.org September 2015 POLICE 127

SUDOKU n