Page 6 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2017

‘We can’t cope’

olice officers are getting to the point officers and increased pressure on officers public and everything that’s wrong in
where they cannot cope with what they that concerns him, he says the Force is society,” he argued.
Pare expected to deal with, according to starting to feel the effects of a dwindling While broadly critical of police chiefs
an experienced West Midlands DI. neighbourhood policing presence, who don’t want to rock the boat, he praises
Warren Hines, who works on a Force something that he blames for a lack of Chief Constable Dave Thompson for
murder team, says the cuts to policing street level intelligence which, in turn, is speaking out on his concerns about police
budgets mean there are just not enough having an effect on counter terrorism work. funding.
officers to go around. His own team is now Warren said: “I have noticed on my “Mr Thompson has innovated and
half the size it was in 2012 and yet it was investigations that our intelligence starts to reorganised continually, I just do not know
dealing with more murder cases. dry up towards the end of 2013; this is a what else he can do with the current
Sickness is ‘rife’ around the Force and direct consequence of the lack of proactive financing arrangements,” said Warren.
more and more officers are suffering mental policing, not just by neighbourhood officers. But in some cases it’s too little, too late.
health issues due to the stress they face. “Our response teams are overwhelmed Two detectives on Force CID who he
“I think it is starting to dawn on people and, as they are continually bounced from describes as among the best he has ever
that we can’t continue like this,” said job to job, they don’t have the time to turn worked with, have already quit the service,
Warren, who has 20 years’ service, “Everyone people over, target the people we know are in the last month.
knows when they join the police that they persistent criminals and generate the “These are officers with between 15 and
are going to be tested; it’s part and parcel of intelligence that is the lifeblood of policing. 20 years’ service who are leaving; people
being a police officer but it’s getting to the “Criminals are committing offences with with a future in policing, the sort of people
stage, with the pressures we are facing due impunity and seriously damaging the very we desperately need in WMP. A lot of what
to reduced numbers and increased demand, fabric of society by causing real and lasting policing is can’t be learned from a book, we
where people just can’t cope.” harm in the communities we police.” need experienced committed people to
In an interview with Sky News, he He continued: “We need officers in our deliver any kind of service to the public,”
explained: “We’ve got examples of police communities who know what’s going on Warren said.
officers who have been conveyed to hospital and can pass on intelligence but we also Since speaking out, Warren says he has
from work because they’ve had a meltdown. need officers in our communities to increase received many ‘quite humbling’ comments
“I’m aware of incidents where sergeants public confidence in the police,” he from colleagues.
in our public protection units are allocating explained. “I have been congratulated for speaking
work on the basis of who is the least tearful Warren is also concerned that the out but I really should not have had to.
that morning when they get to work.” pressure to match resource and demand is Policing needs the right leaders, the right
He continued: “In the last 15 months pulling officers away from youth diversion funding and the right people on the ground
alone, around 80 officers in the West programmes. but currently the service is being destroyed
Midlands Force have been referred to the “We are just not getting the time to help and I am concerned that we have already
Welfare Support Programme. Those are turn these young people around,” he said, passed the point of no return,” he concluded.
people who are undergoing a significant adding that this crime prevention work “I hoped I would eventually leave
mental health crisis. could be critical and has always been an policing in a better shape than I found it,
“They’re experiencing suicidal thoughts absolutely vital part of what the Force does. instead I believe I am presiding over the
and tendencies and they are at risk of doing But ultimately, Warren feels that further death throes of what was once great, the
something really serious to hurt themselves, denigration of the police service is going to envy of the world, which is something
and this is only as a result of the pressures have an impact on the general public as a politicians and senior leaders in policing
that they are being put under.” whole. who have kept quiet should hang their
But it’s not just the falling number of “We are all that comes between the heads in shame over.”

The Welfare Support Programme (WSP) has been operating for Officers can access WSP when they are:
almost two years and has assisted more than 500 officers. It offers l Involved in death or serious injury investigation
round the clock support to officers and their families when they l Served gross misconduct papers
need it most. l Suspended from duty, or
It is able to access the right kind of help for officers who are l When the Federation believes officer would benefit from
considered vulnerable for any reason, which could include having access to the programme.
involvement in death or serious injury incidents, suspension from In addition, the WSP is also available for family members of
duty or potentially as a result of medical or personal reasons. officers entered onto the programme and including immediate
Richie Jones, one of the Federation’s leads on the WSP scheme, family members, partners, any dependants of the officer and
said: “There has been recognition that there are gaps in areas of any person living in the same household with the officer.
support that some forces are able to offer police officers and their The programme is a joint initiative of the Police Firearms
families in their times of need. Officers’ Association (PFOA) and the Police Federation of
“This programme is a means to filling the gaps and most England and Wales.
importantly to offer a 24-hour service for those officers on the The PFOA was launched in 2009 and since then more than
programme to access suitably trained staff 365 days 7,000 firearms officers from all over the UK and Channel Islands
a year.” have joined. Membership costs just £4 a month
Officers access the scheme via a referral from For more information call 01354 697890, email info@pfoa.
their local Federation. co.uk or go to www.pfoa.co.uk

06 federation August/September 2017 www.westmidspolfed.com