Page 4 - Federation Magazine June / July 2017
P. 4
Chairman’s introduction
Birmingham rises
to the challenge…
again!
Photo courtesy Express & Star numbers attending, a move to a more featured Merseyside’s James Ellerman giving
central location seemed to make great an honest and sobering account of the
By Tom Cuddeford, chairman of West sense. devastating effect of facing criminal and
Midlands Police Federation Nevertheless, I am guessing many misconduct proceedings simply for doing his
people didn’t exactly get excited about job, protecting the public from harm.
I am sure there were many people who ditching a coastal location for the centre of I, for one, hope that those organising
had reservations about moving the our second city. However, I am hoping that next year’s conference take heed of the
Police Federation’s annual national most people – despite the wet weather that success of this approach and try to involve
conference from its comfortable location on greeted them pretty much throughout more front-line officers in next year’s event.
the south coast to the less-scenic centre of conference – could see that what we lack in While I am obviously proud that our
Birmingham. sea views we make up for in so many other officers played such a big part both on stage
The conference had been held in ways. and on the floor during conference, I am also
Bournemouth every year since 2008 and Birmingham has a lot to offer and the aware, of course, that many, many more
before that had alternated between the International Convention Centre (ICC) makes were involved behind the scenes in terms of
southern seaside resort and Blackpool. But, a great venue for a conference. ensuring the venue was secure and that
when the independent review of the Police There must have been something about delegates, observers, exhibitors and guests
Federation of England and Wales called for the ‘home fixture’ that also brought West were safe and secure. Thank you to everyone
the annual event to be trimmed down both Midlands officers to the fore at conference in Operations Support for their tireless
from three days to two and in terms of the too. efforts.
From Chief Constable Dave Thompson Moving away from our Force
taking part in the opening morning’s involvement in the conference, I think the
political session (filling the shoes of Diane event was a success. Along with a change of
Abbott who was shifted to an afternoon slot venue, the need to shrink the event down to
to allow for the launch of the Labour Party’s two days meant that the format also had to
election manifesto) to our Fed rep Scott be reviewed. Break-out sessions meant that
Davies asking Home Secretary Amber Rudd a it was a packed agenda, perhaps a little too
question on matching resources with packed but the Protecting The Protectors
demand, our officers certainly played a full theme ran throughout the conference
part in the conference. sessions and made it feel far less disjointed
We also saw Adam Koch honoured with than in previous years.
an award (see right) and Mike Bruce’s input The issue of officer welfare – mentally
in the Protect The Protectors debate was one and physically – was a thread running
of the highlights of conference showing that through pretty much all the debates and
front-line officers’ testimonies as to the that has to be a good thing.
issues they face are far more impactive than Amber Rudd only took over as Home
long speeches by politicians or other Secretary in July last year, with the timing of
stakeholders. her appointment proving to be particularly
This was also in evidence in the session useful since her first appointment in the role
on police pursuits which was led by our own was to attend the national Police Bravery
deputy secretary Tim Rogers but also Awards. If that awards ceremony doesn’t tell
04 federation June/July 2017 www.westmidspolfed.com
