Page 24 - WMPF Federation FebMar2021-Hi_Neat

Detectives in focus

‘They are under

huge pressure’

shortage of detectives means that No one can. Glyn says officers tend to put their own
many are working excessive hours, “Recognition must be given to officers welfare last with many people under the
A giving up rest days, missing time and staff throughout policing for the misconception that they can forget what
with their families and still having to deal constant commendable work they do and they have seen once a case has finished and
with some of the most traumatic their unwavering nerve – particularly swiftly move onto the next or juggle several
investigations, says West Midlands Police throughout the pandemic. My PFNDF cases at once. But this only adds to the
Federation chair Jon Nott. colleagues and I want to bring to light the strain, with a cumulative impact that lasts a
Jon, who is also deputy secretary of the challenges detectives face; the unrelenting lifetime.
Police Federation’s National Detectives’ volume of serious and complex criminal He called on officers to help each other
Forum (PFNDF), spent much of his career as a investigations, with little or no respite. but also wants to see a cultural shift.
detective before becoming a full-time “Every detective I know wants to do the “We need to get better at supporting
Federation official in November 2019. best job possible but there simply are not each other – recognise when we are
He explained: “Detectives are under huge enough of us. Demand is outstripping struggling, talk more openly about wellbeing
pressure and the decade of cuts to police resources and colleagues are working and listen. There are sources of support out
budgets hit them hard given that despite the excessive hours, forgoing rest days, there but we need to see cultural change
fall in officer numbers there was no sacrificing time with their families and and we all have a role to play in that,” he
corresponding drop in crime. The simply not getting enough rest. explained.
Government mantra at the time seemed to “The sad thing is that this is a normal “Throughout this month, we will be
be that you could do more with less but that working week for most, severely impacting sharing personal stories from officers who
simply was not true. on physical and mental wellbeing. It’s hard have sought support, officers who have
“Officers across the board struggled to enough trying to process and cope with helped colleagues, and we will shine a light
meet increased demand with reduced traumatic criminal investigations, but this is on the fantastic detective work that goes on
resources and they were run ragged. Despite in addition to supporting scared and day in and day out.
the current recruitment campaign, it is going distressed victims, working with partner “We are all finding it tough right now, in
to take a while for us to get back to where agencies, the Crown Prosecution Service, every force, in every discipline and if now
we were pre-cuts. Detectives investigate the and seeing a number of legal processes isn’t the time to recognise the signs and
most horrendous crimes, supporting the through to completion to bring some form show simple acts of kindness, I don’t know
families of victims of crimes and juggling of closure for those affected.” when is.”
heavy caseloads. Working excessive hours,
missing rest days and just not having time to Detectives investigate the most
relax, all take their toll and, of course, with “
the pandemic many will have not had the horrendous crimes, supporting the
opportunity to go away on a holiday to try to
relax and recharge.” families of victims of crimes and juggling
Jon’s comments came as the national
Federation launched a month-long focus on heavy caseloads. Working excessive
the role of detectives.
As part of this, Glyn Pattinson, PFNDF hours, missing rest days and just not
chair, says more need to be done to recognise
the demands and personal impact of dealing having time to relax, all take their toll
with serious and disturbing crime.
In a blog published on the national Police and, of course, with the pandemic many
Federation’s website, Glyn says:
“Unsurprisingly, policing can be very grim at will have not had the opportunity to go
times. No officer I know signed up thinking it
will be easy but, while we embrace what we away on a holiday to try to relax and
face with pride and the overwhelming will to
protect the public we serve, it shouldn’t recharge.
come with the expectation that we can all “
cope with anything and everything. We can’t.

24 federation February/March 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids