Page 10 - WMPF Federation Dec2018-flip_Neat

90 per cent of

members feel

there are not

enough officers to

cope with demand

He added: “Our minimum staffing is eight
and we regularly parade six or below when
the officers on free days are not in. Each has
n ‘overwhelming number’ of sergeant, said he hoped the survey could about 20-30 ongoing investigations with a
Federation members feel their provide feedback to the Chief Constable on further 30 new investigations landing each
A workload is too high and that there behalf of Federation members so that a risk day. We are also responsible for any ‘duty’ jobs
are not enough officers to cope with assessment and suitable control measures that come in, stabbings, shootings, robberies
demand. could be implemented to reduce the risk of and so on - and all prisoners, excluding
That is the finding of a stress survey stress and burn-out. domestic violence - arrested by response and
conducted on behalf of the West Midlands He said: “This is in the process of being put other front-line departments.
Police Federation Health and Safety to the Health and Safety Committee – after “The workload has increased
Committee. approval from the committee the findings will substantially. I believe that crime has risen by
A total of 612 officers responded to the be sent to the Force health and safety officer about 20 per cent in some areas and the
survey during October, including CID and who will in turn discuss the findings with team has dropped by 50 per cent. It is
response constables and sergeants, and all Chief Constable Dave Thompson. unsustainable, officers report feeling
inspectors. “We want what is best for our members, a frustrated, fatigued and burnt out. they have
It found that more than 80 per cent of safe and healthy working environment.” no investigation time and have to deal with
those who responded said their workload In previous meetings involving ACCs and the highest risk matters which trump
was too high or much too high. the Federation’s health and safety anything else.”
The survey also revealed: representatives, the Force has asked for Steve highlights the provisions of health
l More than 90 per cent felt there were not evidence to show that any issues raised exist. and safety legislation:
enough officers to cope with demand So they are now hoping the survey results will l It shall be the duty of every employer to
l More than 60 per cent spent more than lead to changes. ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,
half of their working week feeling Steve explained: “We have approached the the health, safety and welfare at work of
stressed, and Force several times over the ‘refreshment all his employees. s.2(1) Health and Safety
l 30 per cent said they were stressed all of breaks’ issue and, although there is an at Work Act 1974
the time. acknowledgement that there is a problem, l Welfare includes stress. (Hse.gov.uk, 2018)
Steve Green, the Force CID Federation the chief officers cannot act on anecdotal l Employers have a legal duty to protect
workplace representative and deputy chair of evidence and require actual issues that we can employees from stress at work by doing a
the Health and Safety Committee, said: “The document. Refreshment breaks are being risk assessment and acting on it.
findings of the survey are stark – an looked into as a separate work-stream led by (Hse.gov.uk, 2018).
overwhelming majority of officers are the committee’s deputy secretary, Archie He had originally produced a snapshot
concerned about their workload, their stress Murphy. survey, designed to find out members’ views
levels and their ability to cope with demand. “Several members raised workload and on workload and stress. The original survey
“This is unacceptable. Officers report stress issues with me and Jason Durnall as we only went to FCID constables, sergeants and
feeling frustrated, fatigued and burnt out. are two of the Force CID (FCID) Federation all inspectors. However, other departments
They have no investigation time to deal with reps. The issues focused around lack of staff asked to be included so it was extended to
the highest risk matters, which come above numbers and the increase in workload. response constables and response sergeants.
anything else. “Over the past two years, since the start of “This was only ever designed to be a
“It is a poor service to victims, who are the 2020 Force restructure and change snapshot. It is not, and was never intended to
left going for weeks without any action on programme, Force CID has lost staff to other be, an extensive investigation into causes and
their cases.” department or they have left the job, effects. Its sole purpose was to provide
The report found that the causes of transferred forces or gone to ROCU or CTU.” feedback to the chief officers on behalf of the
stress differed depending on the role. For Steve cites the example that at TS1, which members so that a risk assessment could be
example, the main stress causes for response went live in November 2016, he had a team of revised and suitable control measures
constables was a lack of breaks and finishing two sergeants and 21 officers including four implemented to reduce the risk of stress and
late, for investigation sergeants it was not police staff investigators (PSI). For various burn-out on these officers,” Steve concluded.
enough staff and too many investigations reasons, staff have been taken from or left the The Federation’s Health and Safety
while for inspectors it was competing team leaving it with two sergeants and 10 Committee officials are:
demands for resources and the management constables (only one of whom is a qualified Secretary - Deano Walker
of risk within investigations. PIP2 detective) and one PSI. From those 10, Chair - Jason Durnall
Steve, who has been with the Force for one is long-term sick, two are restricted and Deputy chair - Steve Green
more than 22 years, that last 12 of which as a three are flexi-workers. Deputy secretary - Archie Murphy.
10 federation December 2018/January 2019 www.polfed.org/westmids