Page 4 - West Midlands Police Federation_Annual Report18_Neat

Secretary’s summary

There were four key themes to my work during 2018
– the Federation elections, maintaining the quality of
service we offer members, officers’ pay and, perhaps

linked to that, issues around retention and recruitment.

Elections Serving our members The Federation has argued that
in real terms this amounts to just
From February 2018, branches The budget available to West 0.85 per cent for constables while
across England and Wales held Midlands Police Federation is also stating officer pay has fallen
their first elections under the now set centrally by the Police more than that of other sectors
new processes put in place Federation of England and Wales. of the workforce. The Federation
following Sir David Normington’s Despite receiving a far smaller has mounted a legal challenge to
independent review of the amount from central funds than the Government’s decision.
Police Federation. The overall we have had previously, we have
aim was to ensure that each managed to retain the same level Retention and recruitment
Branch Council was made up of of service to our members.
a truly representative group of We are beginning to see an
individuals. New constituencies We are still offering off-duty legal increase in the number of people
were drawn up which brought cover – with the Metropolitan choosing to leave the Force and
challenges with regard to Police being the only other this is coupled with early signs
geographic and departmental branch to do so. This means our of a slow-down in the number
representation but committee members are fully protected both of people showing an interest in
secretaries have worked hard to on and off duty. This policy is joining. The combination of these
train and upskill representatives due for renewal in April 2019 two factors means, for the first
to provide a professional service but will continue as long as it time in a long time, we
locally. The vast majority of all remains affordable. may have a recruitment and
newly elected reps have received Pay retention problem.
their initial Federation training The introduction of the Policing
with two courses being held For the second year running, Education Qualifications
locally. The election also provided the Government ignored Framework (PEQF) now requires
us with a waiting list of those the recommendations of all police officers to have degree
wanting to become reps but, the independent Police level qualifications at the point
due to retirements, transfers Remuneration Review Body of confirmation and this is
and other officers leaving, this (PRRB). The PRRB had something we, as a Federation,
has now been exhausted. We recommended a three per cent believe will lead to a lack of
are organising another round of pay rise – close to the 3.4 per diversity in recruits across many
elections to fill the vacancies cent sought for members by protected strands.
and replenish the waiting list the Police Federation and the
so that we retain a full council Superintendents’ Association -
for the next two years, until the but the Government instead gave
next triennial. officers just two per cent.

By Steve Grange

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