Page 14 - WMPF Federation Magazine February / March 2018

Tom Cuddeford implores delegates at the
national Police Federation conference in
2014 to support all the recommendations
from Sir David Normington’s independent
review in one of the most critical decisions
in the organisation’s history.

a PC a year later.
But, while he joined to help others and
was attracted by the variety of roles within
the profession, it could have been very
Policing: an different. He had already been accepted as a
absolutely Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.
trainee Registered General Nurse at New

He recalls: “However, when the police
cadet job offer came in, literally a few days
later, that was it, I was destined to become a
career police officer.”
unique role side of his make-up still shone through in his
Nonetheless, the caring and nurturing
policing career and was instrumental in him
taking an active role in the Police Federation
for the last 10 years through which he could
offer support and understanding to
colleagues experiencing tough times in their
hirty-one years after joining the Force accountable, however, I do have concerns own careers.
as a cadet, West Midlands Police that these demands place considerable Through a career of 30 plus years, Tom
TFederation chair Tom Cuddeford will pressure and stress on fellow colleagues. has seen massive changes within the
soon clock off for the last time as he retires When things go wrong it appears that it’s policing service but sees one of the biggest
in April. the Federated members who suffer rather as the shift in the nature of the camaraderie
And while he has many happy memories than infrastructure and officers of higher among colleagues.
of his time as a police officer and a ranks. “Instead of large shifts and people
Federation representative, he is aware that “Meanwhile, the Police Federation of supporting each other, it is far more smaller
he leaves the Force – and the Federation – at England and Wales is continuing the reform groups of people, with more specific roles to
a pivotal time. process following Sir David Normington’s perform. There are pros and cons for this and
“The Force, just like the rest of the police independent review and we are now the loss of 2,000 officers in our Force has
service is feeling the effects of the cuts in working our way through the long-awaited also had some impact on this,” says Tom.
terms of reduced officer numbers – with no local and national elections under the new “To some extent the change in crimes i.e.
corresponding drop in demand – but we are regulations.” cyber/internet fraud and the increased
also seeing the effects of increased Tom’s policing career began when he threat of terrorism has also had a major
accountability,” says Tom. became a West Midlands Police Cadet on 11 impact.”
“Of course, we all need to be April 1987 and, upon graduation, he became But despite all the change he has

14 federation February/March 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com