Page 31 - WMPF Federation June-July 2018-flip_Neat

New dates available for Ben

Fund’s seaside holiday home

he West Midlands Police
Benevolent
TFund has
released new dates
for 2018/19 for its
members to stay at
its popular Peel’s
Retreat holiday
home in
Weymouth, Dorset.
The fund is
offering its
members the
chance to bid for a
week-long break to
stay at the three-
bedroom townhouse
at a discounted rate.
Sleeping up to
six people and with parking for one car the property is ideally located on the south coast of Dorset to explore the pretty harbour, sandy
beach and local attractions.
There are lots of great things to see and do during your stay. Weymouth is a gateway to the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, and
only a few miles from Chesil Beach where a causeway leads to Portland Island.
The holiday home was snapped up by members last year with visitors giving it the thumbs up for a great seaside location and home
from home.
For more details about the Weymouth holiday home visit www.wmpben.co.uk or call the Benevolent Fund office on 0121 700 1212.

Don’t say Ongoing terror threat adds

goodbye to the to strain placed on Force

Ben Fund! The strain of policing such a wide metropolitan area during a period of high

terrorist threats has added to the pressure placed on West Midlands Police’s
WMP Benevolent Fund urges its members to front-line resources.
remain in touch when new data law arrives A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Press Association
West Midlands Police Benevolent Fund is asking revealed that more than 23,000 rest days were owed to West Midlands officers
its members to stay connected once the new data on 17 September last year, giving a snapshot of the extent of the problem.
protection Laws (GDPR) come into force on 25 May. Other forces that responded recorded similarly startling figure with the likes
In order to be GDPR compliant, the Benevolent of Kent owing 12,995, Thamas Valley owing 26,873 and the Met a staggering
Fund will need the permission of its 6500 plus 184,000 rest days to its officers.
members to stay in touch even if they are already The Met had a string of major terrorist incidents to deal with such as
receiving information about its member benefits and Westminster, Finsbury Park, Parsons Green and London Bridge.
services. If members don’t give consent to stay in And while West Midlands did not have any major terrorist atrocities to
touch, unfortunately all communication from the police, that ongoing threat, along with major concerts, football matches,
Fund will end after this date. marches and events, still led to an already stretched force being asked to do
WMP Benevolent Fund currently holds personal even more.
data of all its members, including details of a Acting chair of West Midlands Police Federation John Williams said: “One of
nominated beneficiary. the main reasons why our members have been asked to work on rest days and
Every month it provides help and support to Bank Holidays is because of the work and numbers needed to prevent terrorism.
serving officers, police staff and retired members in “The threat level has been at ‘critical’ and that means officers have had
their hour of need. planned time off cancelled by chief officers who have struggled with the
If you’re a member of WMP Benevolent Fund and demands placed on the Force’s shoulders by a Government that has been intent
are happy for the Fund to remain in contact with you on cutting resources.
about your membership please give consent via the “The continued commitment and dedication of our West Midlands
link here: https://www.wmpben.co.uk/ members during such a difficult time never ceases to amaze me.”
consenttocontact/ The Police Federation of England and Wales says that any rest days
For more details about WMP Benevolent Fund and cancelled more than 15 days prior to an event should be re-allocated within
how to join visit www.wmpben.co.uk four days of that notification being received.

www.westmidspolfed.com federation June/July 2018 31