Page 8 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2018-flip

Peggy becomes

national equality lead

est Midlands Police Federation
representative Peggy Lamont is
Wlooking forward to helping the
Police Federation of England and Wales
become more diverse and representative.
Peggy had only been a member of the
Federation’s new National Board for a few days
when she landed the role of equality lead but
is unfazed by the role she is taking on.
“I decided to stand to become a member
of the National Board as I have always
wanted to be able to contribute to the
political conversation around the future of
policing. I was ready for a new challenge,”
says Peggy, who has been a local Federation
rep for around 10 years.
“I am hoping I can use the negotiating
and advocacy skills I have learned so well
within West Midlands Police Federation at a
national level. I am looking forward to
working with my regional colleagues from
Staffordshire, West Mercia and Warwickshire
as well as maintaining my relationships and
friendships in the West Midlands.
“I put myself forward for the equality
lead position as I have had a thorough
grounding in this area over my time within
the West Midlands branch. I feel I have a
good practical grasp of the issues and will be
able to support colleagues across the
country as they help their colleagues.
“I will help the Federation fulfil its
ambition to become a more diverse
organisation and will contribute to tackling
national equality issues.”
Peggy joined the Force in 2001 – it was
just at the time of a large recruitment drive
and at a peak time for encouraging more Peggy Lamont, the new national Federation equality lead.
women to join the police service.
She started her career at Chelmsley She explained: “I had always been interested “I was a bit of a mouse when I became a
Wood on the old response team before in being a Federation rep but decided to put Fed rep! It seems impossible now, but I had
moving to the rural section on a myself forward after being told that as a a really difficult start to my policing career
neighbourhood team and then, after the part-time officer I wouldn’t be able to build and, combined with my disability, I was
birth of her children, moved into the Contact up a sufficient portfolio for promotion. I have finding it very hard. Gathering the courage
Centre. been qualified since 2003. I saw it as both a to advocate effectively for my colleagues
A few years later, Peggy decided to act chance to get involved in wider policing was probably the hardest part of becoming
on her ambition to become a workplace decisions being made and to help my a functional Fed rep, but so worth it.
representative for the Federation. colleagues and I was right. “I can honestly say West Midlands Police
Federation has helped me re-build my
I will help the Federation fulfil its ambition confidence in myself and given me amazing
support to fulfil my potential which I didn’t
to become a more diverse organisation and feel was going to happen in Force. I am so
grateful to the Federation as a whole for all
will contribute to tackling national equality the training opportunities and for being my
‘policing family’. I have made some life-long
“ issues. friends and done things I never would have
imagined.”
Peggy was the first female secretary of

08 federation October/November 2018 www.polfed.org/westmids
“