Page 5 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar2019-flip_Neat

measly pay award be successful and, above
all, we need the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, Pensions ruling – Federation
to ensure the Government puts money
where his mouth is.
As my final focus for the year, I want to seeks new legal advice
see consistency from the National Police
Chiefs’ Council in the payment of bonuses to The Police Federation is awaiting fresh “Furthermore, within the ruling, there
bobbies across England and Wales. Last year, legal advice after the Court of Appeal is reference made to other rulings which
when US President Donald Trump visited ruled the Government’s changes to the have been decided upon since we obtained
some forces paid bonuses others didn’t - we pension schemes of judges and our initial legal advice on whether to
want fairness from the chiefs to pay to all firefighters were discriminatory on the challenge the pension changes some five
especially if we have unrest related to Brexit. grounds of age. years ago. There have been previous
I then just have one more thing to It is also expecting the Government to requests for our legal advice to be shared
mention before signing off this time – the respond to the latest ruling. publicly, however, our view has been that
Police Unity Tour! Along with officers from The legal challenge on behalf of the it could be unhelpful to those engaged in
across England and Wales, I will be taking judges and firefighters came after the current challenge and could, at any
part in this year’s tour, cycling to the changes to public sector pensions in 2015 stage, undermine their position or our
National Memorial Arboretum in a which also affected police officers. own.
sponsored cycle ride spread over three days Alex Duncan, national “We have always closely monitored the
in July. Please support this event since all secretary of the Police developments within the cases lodged by
money raised goes towards the invaluable Federation of England and the judges, firefighters and our colleagues
work carried out by the Care of Police Wales (PFEW), said when represented by Leigh Day and at every
Survivors (COPS) charity. the ruling was announced stage we have stated that we would
in the run-up to Christmas: review our position dependent on
“This remains a developments.”
complicated issue, with no Following the Court of Appeal ruling,
certainty over how the Alex Duncan. the Federation is seeking further legal
Government will choose to address the advice, including a thorough review of its
ruling. previous advice and the arguments put
“The judgement handed down is both forward at the last court hearing. It will
lengthy and complex, but nonetheless, a also consult its pensions specialists.
positive outcome for those engaged in “We anticipate that this review will be
the process. The difficulty is determining completed early in 2019, at which point
what a positive outcome means for our we will be better informed to be able to
members and those officers engaged with decide on what the next steps should be,”
Leigh Day solicitors. said Alex.

Stress survey: Federation meeting Chief

Members of the West Midlands Police l 30 per cent said they were stressed all
Federation Health and Safety Committee of the time.
are meeting with the Chief Constable to Steve Green, the Force CID Federation
discuss the findings of a Force-wide stress workplace representative and deputy chair
survey. of the Health and Safety Committee, said:
The survey, carried out on behalf of the “We have a meeting with the Chief
committee last October, revealed an Constable on 5 February to discuss the
‘overwhelming number’ of Federation findings. We also considered the results at
members feel their workload is too high our last committee meeting and we have
and that there are not enough officers to been in talks with Force health and safety
cope with demand. about reviewing current risk assessments
A total of 612 officers responded to and control measures.
the survey, including CID and response “We want what is best for our members, a
constables and sergeants, and all safe and healthy working environment.”
inspectors. In previous meetings involving ACCs and
It found that more than 80 per cent of the Federation’s health and safety
those who responded said their workload representatives, the Force has asked for
was too high or much too high. evidence to show that any issues raised
The survey also revealed: exist. So, the Federation is now hoping the
l More than 90 per cent felt there were survey results will lead to changes.
not enough officers to cope with The Federation’s Health and Safety
demand Committee officials are: secretary - Deano
l More than 60 per cent spent more Walker, chair - Jason Durnall, deputy chair
than half of their working week feeling - Steve Green, deputy secretary -
stressed, and Federation representative Archie Murphy.
Members of the West Midlands Chapter of the Police Unity Tour in 2018.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation February/March 2019 05