Page 4 - WMPF Federation June-July 2018-flip_Neat

Chair’s introduction

A change in direction

could bring extra

funding for policing

By John Williams, acting chair of West Even more pleasing was the fresh into clearer waters. The night before his
Midlands Police Federation approach he took to his conference conference appearance, copies of his
appearance. Theresa May was Home speech began to circulate and there was a
irmingham was once again the host Secretary for six years, taking over the post change of tone, a change of content, a
city for this year’s national in May 2010. Relations between Mrs May change of style.
Bconference organised by the Police and the Federation always appeared Anyone who had not seen the advance
Federation of England and Wales and strained. At conference in 2012, officers coverage of the speech must have been
attended by Federation representatives, booed her off the stage and three years pleasantly surprised; for once it was not a
invited guests and many of the big later she accused officers of ‘crying wolf’ case of slipping down in your seat waiting
decision-makers in the police service. and ‘scaremongering’ when warning of the for the teacher to finish telling you off or
Perhaps the most notable speaker this consequences of cuts. pointing out your failings.
year was Sajid Javid who just three weeks Most years during her tenure at the Mr Javid said he wanted to reset the
ahead of conference took over as Home Home Office, her keynote address to relationship between the Government and
Secretary following the sudden departure conference felt more like a strict the Federation, he wants to give us the
of Amber Rudd in the wake of the headmistress scolding errant students. funding, tools and resources to do our job.
Windrush scandal. And, it’s fair to say Ms Rudd did not signal Of course, it is early days and he has much
It was a little disconcerting in the any great change in direction when she to learn about his new role. Sadly, he won’t
run-up to conference to think that Mr delivered her speech to delegates last year. have too much time to get on top of it all.
Javid may choose to either not attend However, enter Mr Javid who right Policing is in crisis – something pointed
conference or to hide behind his short from the outset seemed to want to steer out by many speakers, and not just
time in post. the Federation – Home Office relationship delegates, at conference, and he has to act

‘Conference firmly focussed on members’

This year’s conference would focus on the realities Federation He urged delegates to play a full part in conference.
members and the public face on a daily basis. delegates were told “Over the next two days we will have an opportunity to
in the national chair’s opening speech. question those in policing and politics who are joining us in our
Calum Macleod set the tone explaining: “The reality of how panel debates and sessions. We will all have an opportunity to
each day police officers place themselves in harm’s way for the make our voice heard and to do what our members expect from us,”
public, for young and old alike, for your families and for mine. The Calum said.
reality that the pressure being placed on officers is His welcome session included footage of officers at last year’s
unprecedented; the reality that keeping the public safe is national Police Bravery Awards.
becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. The new chair also told conference there would be a minute’s
“Quite simply conference, we are here for them. We are here silence at 2.30pm to remember the Manchester Arena bombing on
so that their voice can be heard. We all have a duty to represent 22 May 2017 when he said “indescribable evil again descended on
them… to be their voice. To air their concerns, to seek solutions on our country” and during which off-duty Cheshire officer Elaine
their behalf and to challenge where challenge is needed. We McIver lost her life.
should never take for granted what they do and why they do it, He also remembered drummer Lee Rigby on the fifth
sometimes paying the highest possible price.” anniversary of his murder.

04 federation June/July 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com