Page 12 - WMPF Federation AUG-SEPT 2019_Neat

Supporting members

‘I have a pretty good idea

of how colleagues feel’

says new conduct lead

‘Do not panic’ – that’s the first bit of haven’t forgotten about them. It is really not
advice full-time West Midlands Police that hard.”
Federation conduct lead George McDonnell What he finds more challenging,
offers to members served with a Regulation however, is ensuring the line between officers
15 Notice. making an honest mistake and being
Secondly, he advises officers to accept the deliberately bad is maintained.
notice, read it carefully and not comment. “But,” he concedes, “At times, we do have
“The notice will say it is notification that to accept that officers may get things wrong
an allegation has been made against them,” and they are not fallible. In line with the
George explains, “It is purely that, an recommendations put forward by Lord Taylor
allegation and 95 per cent are not proven or in 2012, we have to embrace learning and
admitted. Thankfully, we are moving away there is an argument that we should all be on
from dishing out Regulation Notices for every a development plan throughout our careers.
matter as the Force’s Professional Standards “We are awaiting the introduction of new
Department is more open to mistakes being conduct regulations which further embed
made by officers that can be rectified by extra this learning and development ethos but we
learning. Clearly, the more serious matters welcome the stronger emphasis to be placed
will still need the service of a Regulation on performance requiring improvement.
Notice.” “These should further concentrate minds
On receiving a notice, members should in relation to officer learning and move away
call George or one of the other representatives West Midlands Police Federation conduct from the blame game that officers have
on the Federation’s Conduct and Performance lead George McDonnell. suffered for years.”
Liaison Officers’ (CaPLO) Committee to seek George believes the Independent Office
initial advice. He has also had experience of being for Police Conduct has started to move
“This will often go some way to reassure subject to a complaint, recalling: “I think it forward in terms of being more
the officer and, at the very least, explain the took 18 months from the start of the transparent, more accountable and more
process and what it is the officer can expect investigation until its conclusion. This informed about what police officers do in
at every stage should further enquiries culminated in a police notebook entry and an their very varied and complex roles.
continue,” he says. apology for not getting the whole sorry The Federation is making the most of
George, who is secretary of the CaPLO episode concluded quicker. It certainly quarterly meetings between the IOPC and
Committee, now shares the Federation’s impacts on your everyday life; family, friends other regional conduct representatives at
full-time conduct role with Dave Hadley and almost everything you do or say at that which any concerns can be raised, either in
following the retirement in June of conduct time. individual cases or where a number of
stalwart John Tooms. “Having been investigated and having officers are subject to a joint investigation.
But he has five years’ experience as a found the whole experience daunting, I have Anything from timelines to personnel will
Federation representative under his belt, a pretty good idea of how my colleagues feel. be discussed and, if feedback is required, this
“I think it’s really important to take the
specialising in conduct cases from very early time to make a call to let them know you is acted on.
“This has undoubtedly gone some way to

“ and the Federation. It is certainly not perfect
on during his Federation career.
improve the relationship between the IOPC
Supporting colleagues throughout the entire
but it is a whole world away from where we
process was rewarding as was challenging
were four to five years ago,” says George.
But, he also argues officers need to play

unfairness, offering re-assurance where it was their part in helping improve performance.
“We all need to continually reflect on
desperately needed and managing realistic
done something differently or better. As a
expectations. self-performance, ask whether we could have
Federation, we have to drive that reflection
but also continually hold the investigating
authorities to account on behalf of all those
12 federation August/September 2019 www.polfed.org/westmids
“