Page 24 - WMPF Federation Dec2018-flip_Neat
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West Midlands Police Federation
       Review                                                                    1 March
                                                                                 Voting opens in the new Police Federation of
                                                                                 England and Wales elections with 76 West
                                                                                 Midlands officers seeking election to 58
                                                                                 representative roles. For the first time voting
                                                                                 is electronic. It is due to close on 21 March.

                 of the year 2018                                                4 March
                                                                                 Wiltshire Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey is
                                                                                 taken ill after responding to a suspected
                                                                                 Russian nerve gas attack in Salisbury,
                                                                                 Wiltshire.
                                                                                 13 March
                                                                                 West Midlands Police officers are urged to
                                            25 January                           contact their MPs ahead of the second
                                            “Smoke and                           reading of a bill aiming to give police
                                            mirrors” – Andy                      response drivers better protection in law.
                                                                                 West Midlands Police Federation deputy
       3 January                            Fittes, the                          secretary Tim Rogers, the Federation’s
       The new-look Independent Office for Police   Federation’s                 national pursuits lead, is spearheading the
       Conduct (IOPC) replaces the Independent   national general                campaign for legislative change.
       Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).   secretary, responds
       National Federation conduct and      to The Office for
       performance lead Phill Matthews warns a   National Statistics
       radical overhaul is needed if it is to improve.  report Crime in
                                            England and Wales,
       3 January                            which asked people   Andy Fittes.
       New evidence in a joint study by the Police   about their
       Federation and University of Nottingham   experience of crime, and showed a decrease
       shows single crewing could be putting   of 10 per cent from 2016. However, police
       police officers at increased risk of verbal   recorded crime showed an increase of 14 per
       insults and threats, physical attacks and   cent. The report also showed a significant
       injuries requiring medical attention.  rise in knife crime (up 21 per cent) and gun
                                            crime (up 20 per cent).  The police recorded
       9 January                            crime figures also showed a rise in all but
       The West Midlands Police Federation   four categories of crime.
       (WMPF) roadshow visits members at    31 January
       Stechford.
                                            “Think of the lives we could save if we had
       13 January                           more resources.” So said the Federation’s
       Four-year-old Millie Bea undergoes surgery   roads policing lead, Jayne Willetts, at the   1 March
       which could transform her life – thanks to   two-day Roads Policing Conference held in   A new national campaign warns of a crisis in
       the generosity of those who donated to an   Hinckley, Leicestershire, warning that   detective policing.
       appeal set up by her mother, former   dwindling numbers of roads police officers
       Wolverhampton DC Natalie Hughes. Millie   are under increased pressure due to   1 March
       Bea was born with spastic diplegia cerebral   colleagues being deployed to other duties.  The Home Office finally issues a pension
       palsy and had never been able to walk.   1 February                       calculator for members of the police pension
       Follow her progress on Facebook at Millie                                 schemes. The calculator allows members to
       Bea’s Walking Wish.                  West Midlands Police Federation hosts its   get an idea of their projected pension at
                                            ever-popular retirement seminar at
                                            Guardians House.                     retirement and can be found on the Gov UK
                                                                                 website. Its publication follows PFEW
                                            15 February                          lobbying the police pension schemes’
                                            A new roll of honour, part funded by WMPF,   governance body, the Scheme Advisory
                                            is unveiled with the names of 112 police   Board.
                                            officers and staff killed as a result of public   22 March
                                            service. A service of dedication was led by
                                            Force Chaplain Major Vic Kennedy of the   WMPF acting chair John Williams says the
                                            Salvation Army.                      PEEL (police effectiveness, efficiency and
                                                                                 legitimacy) report by Her Majesty’s
                                            20 February                          Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &
                                            West Midlands Police Federation moves to   Rescue Services shows the police service was
                                            offices on the top floor of Guardians House   under considerable strain and that the
                                            and a new website is launched.       Government needed to act now to prevent a
                                            polfed.org/westmids                  major crisis. The report describes the Force
                                                                                 as ‘inadequate’ at protecting vulnerable
                                                                                 people but good in the three other areas.




       24     federation December 2018/January 2019                             www.polfed.org/westmids
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