Page 26 - WMPF Federation Dec2018-flip_Neat

9 July 7 August
The West Midlands Police Federation A PFEW survey discovers that more police
(WMPF) roadshow visits members at officers than ever (7.8 per cent) have taken
Coventry. second jobs, up from 6.3 per cent of
respondents in 2017. A staggering 44.8 per
cent said they worry about the state of their
personal finances either every day or almost
every day and more than one in nine (11.8
per cent) said they never or almost never
have enough money to cover all of their
essentials.
11 August
The Government should be investing the
millions of pounds being spent on police
over-time in England and Wales employing
more officers. That was the Federation
response to figures which revealed more
27 July than £1.7 billion has been spent on police
12 July West Midlands Police Officer Stu Collins over-time in the whole of the UK since 2013.
West Midlands PCs Lee Jones and PC Richard takes part in the Police Unity Tour (PUT)
Meede are among those honoured at a annual 180-mile cycle ride to raise funds for 15 August
Downing Street reception hosted by the Care of Police Survivors (COPS). He wore a Nearly 2,000 police officers voluntarily quit
police minister after being nominated for wristband honouring PC James Davies of the service over the past 12 months – an
the 23rd Police Bravery Awards. They had Worcestershire Constabulary who was killed increase of 31 per cent over the past four
responded to a call about concerns for the arresting a theft suspect in 1885. The Force years according to a PFEW leavers’ survey.
safety of a man who lived on his own. He is also represented by recently retired Chief More than half (52.5 per cent) cited morale
was recently bereaved, had a shotgun Inspector Kerry Blakeman who rode for his as their reason for leaving.
licence and had been drinking. PCs Meede father, PC Kerim Blakeman, and Sean Walker,
and Jones went to the house, where the a police staff member, who rode for his 16 August
man allowed them to come inside before father, PC Mac Walker. Gill Wall, a member of Officers approaching retirement attend a
pointing a shotgun at them. The PCs were police staff from Lloyd House, formed part of retirement seminar at West Midlands Police
able to disarm and arrest the man. The the seven-strong support team. In addition, Federation’s offices at Guardians House.
shotgun was later found to be loaded with officers from other forces in the chapter,
cartridges. They also attended the gala which is made up of 29 riders, rode for fallen 23 August
awards presentation evening. West Midlands Police PCs Michael Chapman, WMPF’s deputy secretary Tim Rogers
Anthony Salt and Deborah Harman-Burton. welcomed a statement from the
13 July The ride ended at the National Memorial Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC)
Around 500 West Midlands police officers Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday 29 in support of better legal protection for
supported colleagues during President July where a service was attended by WMPF police response drivers.
Trump’s visit to the UK. There was dismay chair Rich Cooke and Chief Constable Dave
over the very basic accommodation provided Thompson. 28 August
for some on the first night of the operation Twenty-two representatives from across
but welcome news that overnight allowance 1 August England and Wales were elected to the new
was to be paid to all those eligible officers The new national chair of PFEW, John Apter, Police Federation National Board and will
working away from home for the operation. who was formerly chair of Hampshire Police take up their roles from 1 September. They
Federation, takes over from Calum Macleod. include West Midlands’ Peggy Lamont who is
25 July The 2018 elections were the first to take then appointed Federation equality lead to
The Home Secretary’s claims to value police place under the new process recommended help make the Federation more diverse and
officers when awarding them a pay rise that by the Federation’s 2014 Independent representative.
amounts to only one per cent are just hollow Review.
words, says West Midlands Police Federation 1 September
secretary Steve Grange. Speaking after Sajid WMPF chair Rich Cooke joins forces with
Javid announced a two per cent pay rise for Federation workplace reps Roy Teague and
all officers that will come into effect in Sid James to abseil from the top of the 200
September he added: “Even if this was a two foot Holiday Inn Express in Snow Hill,
per cent pay rise, as he claims, it would be an Birmingham, to raise money for Care of
insult to police officers. But in reality this is a Police Survivors (COPS), the charity that
one per cent pay rise as the Government is supports the families of fallen officers.
giving two per cent with one hand – a
consolidated rise - and then taking away one 3 September
per cent with the other - the removal of the New rules designed to detect if firearms
bonus it gave last year.” officers have colour vision problems could be
discriminatory and seriously reduce the
number of armed police officers in the
country, the Federation warns. The new rules
have been introduced by the College of
Policing.

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