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who have been investigated or are under where it was desperately needed and and she agreed,” George explains.
investigation. managing realistic expectations,” he says. “The more I did, the more knowledge I
“We also have to encourage those same “Obviously being able to deliver good acquired and the more interested I became.”
authorities to conduct their business more news was great but clearly doing the About 18 months after joining the
expeditiously, be more professional and to opposite was not enjoyable at all. However, I committee, the secretary was due to retire
adhere to the same standards against which found I could put things into a perspective so and George, having ascertained he would be
we are often measuring our officers.” that the officer can think straight and not go supported by colleagues, successfully stood
George joined the Force in October 2001 on believing the world is about to end. for the full-time role.
and was posted to response for five years, “Negotiation is a challenge in itself as is With a number of other jobs before
listing a rewarding posting to the bringing people with you when they really do joining the police and also a varied policing
professional development unit as a highlight, not want to. Communicating with people career, George believes his life experience
along with receiving several Commander who struggle to communicate is difficult and stands him in good stead in the role.
Commendations. managing officers’ expectations is a huge “I am led to believe communication is a
He first became a Federation workplace challenge.” strength of mine though I’m sure there might
representative in January 2014, formalising a As he became more involved in be a few that disagree. I also have enthusiasm
role he had found himself undertaking quite supporting colleagues, George admits he and the willingness to put my colleagues
by chance. started to struggle to effectively commit to first,” he says.
“Being one of the older PCs, I would tend the dual role of front-line response and With John Tooms now getting to grips
to give advice to my younger colleagues on a Federation representative and made the with retirement, George, Dave Hadley and the
regular basis anyway, so it seemed a good switch Force-wise to the Stechford CaPLO committee are now looking ahead.
idea at the time,” George explains, “Having Investigation Team. “Over the next six months, the next year
listened to a number of trusted friends and “I was carrying out Federation work and beyond, we will be striving to maintain
colleagues as to my suitability, I decided to before and after my tour of duty and would an enthusiastic, hard-working committee and
stand and was given a considerable amount often attend meetings on my rest days. I was continue the good work put in place by John,”
of support across the LPU.” asked to support a colleague with a he explains.
He soon found he enjoyed the rep’s role, misconduct matter but was made aware “We want to improve where we can and
but it was not without its challenges. that, in order to do this, I would need to also be more proactive in getting the
“Supporting colleagues throughout the undertake training for this role. I was a very message out to our members as and where
entire process was rewarding as was busy rep so asked the then secretary of the the current trends are harming them and
challenging unfairness, offering re-assurance CaPLO committee if she would support this their families.”

Taking a proactive approach

The Federation’s conduct and first concerns officers’ use of social media The case highlighted in the link
performance leads have adopted a and the second is in relation to contacting below involving 10 Police Scotland
proactive approach to educating victims of crime, outside of the working colleagues supports this view.
members about their obligations in day and for no real policing purpose. https://tinyurl.com/y2jd24f2
terms of the Standards of Professional Therefore, can I ask you consider the
Behaviour. below: CONTACTING VICTIMS OF CRIME
In the first of what will be a series of When officers have engaged in verbal or
member updates, George McDonnell has SOCIAL MEDIA AND MESSAGING physical contact with victims of crime
emailed all members warning them I appreciate 99.5 per cent of you are for anything other than a policing
about two issues that have been causing probably wondering why this e-mail has purpose then they can expect to be
issues for officers – social media and landed in your inbox as this does not apply dealt with accordingly.
messaging, and contacting victims of to you. I imagine you are also concerned Using personal mobiles, messaging
crime. that colleagues need to be reminded Apps and social media to contact
The update read: about the content of their mobile phones, victims of crime, who are often
Many of you will know Dave Hadley messengers and social media to name a vulnerable, will be brought to the
and I are the full-time West Midlands few. attention of our PSD or the IOPC.
Police Federation conduct and But, all the same, I think we should These cases can often conclude at a
performance leads. As such, it is part of perhaps all consider what is appropriate to conduct meeting at the very least with
our role to support officers throughout own, store or share with others and also the more serious allegations going
every stage of the conduct process. But bear in mind the Chief Constable has made forward to conduct hearings or even
also feel it is important to help advise it very clear that officers who receive and Crown Court.
members in terms of matters where we forward content – not just those who send Falling foul of the above is easily
can see that officers are continually the original message, for example – will avoidable... See the link below.
getting themselves into difficulties. leave themselves extremely vulnerable. This gives clear guidance as to what
For some time now, we have been It is no defence for an officer to argue is acceptable and what is not
aware of a steady increase in members that they believe the content is part of a acceptable.
falling short of the Standards of private conversation or that they shared it https://tinyurl.com/yywt25z2
Professional Behaviour in relation to two with friends and family and not We are more than happy to discuss
issues and these are of real concern. The colleagues. any of the above in confidence.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2019 13