Page 22 - WMPF Federation Feb-Mar 2020-flip_Neat

Get to know your reps

‘My one regret is not

becoming a Fed rep

earlier in my career’

ederation should be.” demand fluctuates significantly.
professional Giles added: “The arrest that made the “Some months there will be very little,
Fdevelopment most impact on me was of a predatory perhaps a health and safety walk through or
lead Giles Dean has paedophile who had just started grooming two, and other months it seems everyone
encouraged younger children. needs you.”
officers to grasp the “The job started out with a missing Giles specialised in his professional
opportunity to support person’s report and from the debrief on the development role three years ago, and says his
their colleagues by return of the children an area search the priority is to ensure officers are treated fairly,
becoming Federation following day revealed the offender to be trained properly and that new schemes, such
workplace waiting near a pre-arranged meeting point. as the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
representatives. Giles Dean. “He was arrested and, as this was back in and Degree Holder Entry Programme, work as
Giles says he regrets waiting until he had the day when response officers were intended.
more than two decades of service behind him omnicompetent, I did the video interviews of “I think it is right now that policing is
before he became a rep for West Midlands the children, the interviews of the offender, recognised as a profession with a vocational
Police Federation. the court file and made the transport qualification at the end of three years,” said
He said: “Federation reps are assisting arrangements to crown court. Giles, who has recently become chair for the
colleagues on a daily basis and doing excellent “When he was convicted and sentenced I Federation’s Health and Safety Committee.
work representing, influencing and felt a real sense of personal achievement.” “The increased complexities of the
negotiating. But a lot of this excellent work Giles became a Fed rep seven years ago policing environment, the knowledge of law,
gets lost among bigger headline pieces such after attending a discipline meeting with a policy and procedure and the decision-making
as pensions and police numbers where there PCSO in the capacity of a friend. skills that are required to be effective in the
are quite rightly feelings of dissatisfaction. “I thought it was an interesting office of constable are of at least degree level.
“When the next elections come up, I experience and felt I contributed to help them “I hope this recognition of the required
would like to see more young in service remain in the post,” he said, “It is the problem- level of professionalism will be reflected in the
officers standing for election. My one regret is solving and negotiation that I enjoy. It is not future pay of police officers.
not becoming a Fed rep until I had 22 years’ about table thumping and making demands. “It is unfortunate for some of us that,
service.” “There is almost always an acceptable apart from the experience we have gained, we
Giles brings a wealth of experience to his solution to most issues and experience has will leave the organisation with no
role. After graduating from Manchester shown that, in most situations, poor transferable qualifications.
University with a law degree, his first job was communication is at the root of the issue.” “The opportunity to obtain work-based
with the Office of Fair Trading in London. He added: “Being a rep is very rewarding qualifications is an important step forward
“After a while, I realised that London was and is a role I would recommend to anyone and I hope there will be increased
not for me and that I needed a new job,” he who cares about their colleagues. It can, opportunities in the future across all
said, “I saw a coupon in a national paper that I however, sometimes be difficult to manage departments to obtain properly assessed
After joining the Force in 1991, Giles’ first “
filled in and sent off to register an interest in the balance between work and repping as the accreditations.”
joining the police, and that was it!
“Six months later I was walking down Being a rep is very rewarding and is a
West Bromwich High Street in a uniform two
sizes too big for me, ‘don’t worry son, you’ll role I would recommend to anyone who
grow into it.’ Twenty nine years later I am still cares about their colleagues. It can,
here.”
however, sometimes be difficult to
posting was on response in West Bromwich.
Currently a neighbourhood sergeant in manage the balance between work and
Wednesbury, he remembers his time on the repping as the demand fluctuates
K1 B Unit with particular affection, and said:
“A great team, colourful characters, significantly.
camaraderie and support, just what a team “

22 federation February/March 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids