Page 28 - WMPF Federation June-July 2021_Neat

Conference Day 2 - Johnson Auditorium

New wellbeing

toolkit is aimed

at detectives

unique wellbeing toolkit aimed “So when this launches, can I ask you to
specifically at detectives and share it with all your members at force level
in
A vestigators was previewed at the and have conversations with your chief
annual national Police Federation officer teams around their appetite for this
conference. because there is a role for them to play in
Details of the specially-commissioned this by getting right behind it?”
Oscar Kilo Toolkit were unveiled during a The discussion heard how high
discussion which covered issues such as workloads, the increasing complexity of
recruitment, retention and growing fears of investigations and the enormous impact on
officer burn-out. work life balance had led to once-coveted
Detective Chief Superintendent Martin roles in CID lose their appeal.
Brunning of the Bedfordshire, Thames Valley’s Deputy Chief Constable
Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Jason Hogg, who is also detectives’ lead on
Crime Unit said the package could be the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said some
transformative in terms of improving the officers also faced a £1,200 pay-cut when
emotional wellbeing of detectives and stop they switched from response to a detective
them leaving the CID. role.
He told the session: “This is not a one DCC Hogg said a survey by Her Majesty’s
size fits all or a token gesture. It’s got real Thames Valley’s Deputy Chief Constable Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &
substance as it comes from a group of Jason Hogg. Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found 22 per
people who have been through the pain of cent of detective posts were vacant and had
having colleagues crashing and burning.” “But that’s not always the case with described it as a ‘national crisis’.
The Investing in the Investigators some of our senior command team and He said: “We’ve done a great deal of
discussion was led by Staffordshire Police executive officers across the country. work through the Recruitment and
Federation secretary Glyn Pattinson, chair of “So when the emails and correspondence Retention of Investigators Working Group in
the Police Federation’s National Detectives’ lands with those officers back in their own overseeing the development of new
Forum (PFNDF) which has long campaigned forces, what can we as Federation reps do to specialist routes.
for leaders to provide better support for help you help our members?” “Every force has a developed action plan
investigators in relation to the unique Det Ch Supt Brunning said: “I would for consideration by HMIC and we’ve
pressures they face. plead with everybody to get behind this encouraged forces to provide target bonus
He said: “I know that the toolkit is going because it is the product of a lot of people payments. A number are doing these
to get a big launch on 21 June and I am with a lot of experience in investigations bonuses very well.”
conscious that as senior officers you who also get what it’s like to be a young in DCC Hogg said Thames Valley had
understand what it’s like to be a detective - service new detective or police staff enjoyed a recruitment boost after
highlighting the detective role, introducing
been there, seen that, done it.
“ Every force has a developed action plan for flexi-time working arrangements, covering
investigator.
the costs of books for officers studying,
giving time off and offering a bonus
consideration by HMIC and we’ve encouraged
payment.
He said: “We promoted flexi-working
forces to provide target bonus payments. A and job sharing. This is one of the reasons
we have more than 50 per cent women
number are doing these bonuses very well. “ applying for our roles.”

28 federation June/July 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids