Page 3 - West Midlands Police Federation: Here for you 2015

Chairman’s Foreword Welcome to this our third annual report. The need for the Police Federation to publish annual public value reports was highlighted in Sir David Normington’s independent review in January 2014 and we were the first branch in England and Wales to act on this. While this report gives us an opportunity to let our members, the Force and other stakeholders - including the public - know what we have been doing during 2015, it also ensures that we, as a Federation, consider what we have achieved, build on our successes and learn where we could do better. What is clear in reading the report is that 2015 was, once again a busy year; a year dominated by the budget cuts and police reform. But it was also a year in which there was a sign that the Government was starting to see that we may not be able to provide a truly effective policing service if more cuts were imposed on us. The Force has risen to the challenge and has done everything within its power to maintain the service it provides to the communities of the West Midlands. But, there is only so much you can do with limited resources and tough decisions have had to be made. Meanwhile, here in the Federation - just like in the Force as a whole - it has been a case of business as usual. We have continued to work tirelessly on members’ behalf - offering support to members facing conduct or performance procedures, advising on work issues and providing access to a range of other support services. I would like to thank all members for their unstinting dedication to serving our communities and doing the job they joined to do - regardless of the difficulties they, and policing in general, have faced over the year. They continue to fight and prevent crime, tackle anti-social behaviour, keep the peace and protect the vulnerable. They hold a unique place in society and long may that continue. Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our former Chief Constable Chris Sims. He was a friend to the Federation. I think he valued the essential role we played, even though this meant that we did not always see eye to eye. I would like to wish him a long and happy retirement. We are now looking forward to building an effective working relationship with Mr Sims’ successor, Dave Thompson. Ian Edwards Chairman West Midlands Police Federation 3