Page 27 - WMPF Federation Dec2018-flip_Neat

1 October 1 November
The new national secretary Alex Duncan, a A new strategy to tackle Serious and
National Board member from Avon & Organised Crime goes only a small way in
Somerset, takes over from Andy Fittes who addressing the issues facing crime and
retired after 31 years’ service as a police criminal activity and in protecting the public,
officer, 19 of those as a Federation rep and says the Federation, adding that while the
over four years as national secretary. strategy ‘appeared to have good intentions’
it showed again that a key element of
4 October policing was being ignored.
Members attend the West Midlands Police
Federation retirement seminar at Guardians 2 November
House. As part of its Front-line review of policing,
the Home Office is seeking the views of
11 October officers and police staff. It will be hosting a
7 September The Police Federation’s National Detectives’ series of regional workshops over the
A national Federation survey reveals custody Forum holds its annual awards night as part following three months.
roles are becoming increasingly unpopular of a two-day seminar in Manchester. 7 November
with nearly one in four (22.5 per cent) of
custody officers wanting to be redeployed A new Parliamentary report by the Public
away from detention duties as soon as Accounts Committee highlights how public
possible - up from 18.9 per cent last year. By confidence in the police service has been
comparison, only 2.5 per cent of firearms ‘severely dented’ after cuts to force budgets
officers wanted to switch jobs and less than should be another sign to the Government
eight per cent of detectives. that it has got it wrong on policing, say
WMPF chair Rich Cooke.
11 - 12 September 14 October
The national Federation custody seminar is West Midlands Police officers and their 7 November
attended by officers from across the country. families and supporters take part in the 650 West Midlands police officers who
Great Birmingham run to raise funds for the served in WW1 were remembered in roll of
13 September WM Benevolent Fund. honour commissioned by WMPF and the
The West Midlands Police Federation Benevolent fund to mark 100 years since end
(WMPF) roadshow visits members at 15 - 16 October of the war. It was unveiled at a special
Wolverhampton. The Federation stages a two-day Post- remembrance service and displayed in the
Incident Procedures seminar in Hinckley, Force’s police museum.
30 September Leicestershire.
The chair and secretary, Rich Cooke and 13 November
Steve Grange, represent West Midlands 18 October Those who attack police, paramedics, nurses
Police Federation and are among a The Federation launches its EveryonePause and other blue light workers face tougher
congregation of around 2,000 people at the survey, the first menopause survey in the sentences as The Assaults on Emergency
National Police Memorial Day service in police service. Workers (Offences) Act comes into law. It
Belfast to honour police officers who have creates a new aggravated offence of an
died or been killed in the line of duty. This 23 October assault against a member of the emergency
year, to mark the centenary of the end of the Formal legal proceedings are started by services and doubles the maximum
First World War, a wreath is laid in PFEW after the Government failed to act on sentence for these cowardly and despicable
remembrance of police officers who died police pay recommendations. Rich Cooke, acts from six to 12 months.
while serving in the armed forces during the chair of WMPF welcomed the move. 21 November
1914 – 1918 conflict.
25 October The Police Federation launches its Did You
Home Affairs Select Committee publishes a Know? campaign to encourage officers to
damning report into the state of policing claim their entitlements.
and criticises the Home Office management
of the police service. 22 November
The last WMPF
29 October retirement seminar
The contempt the Government has for police of 2018 is held at
officers is clear as the Chancellor prioritises Guardians House.
potholes over police officers. That was the
response from national Federation chair 27 November
John Apter to Philip Hammond’s budget A report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
which gives no new money for front-line Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services
policing. The only reference to the service (HMICFRS) says the police should not be
was a £160m investment to maintain expected to pick up the pieces of a broken
specialist counter-terrorism provision - less mental health system and says other
than half of the £420m the Government has services need to stop relying on the 24/7
allocated to deal with potholes. availability of the police service.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2018/January 2019 27