Page 4 - WMPF December-January Magazine.url_Neat

Chair’s introduction

2020: what a

year it has been

on the frontline throughout the pandemic universal. We have still encountered people
who deserve the real praise; the police who have not wanted to comply with the
officers and the police staff. But I also want Government restrictions and where this has
to recognise the police volunteers. I know a been the case we have had to rely on the
number of Specials put in extra hours of four Es of engage, explain, encourage and, as
their own time to support the Force and a last resort, enforce.
their communities and they should be While there was a reduction in crime
commended for this. during the first lockdown, there was an
All these people, certainly in the early increase in the number of assaults on police
days of the lockdown, were pretty much officers and, one of the most shocking
facing the unknown and yet they got on things for me has been the way in which
with their jobs, did what they could to help some individuals have sought to weaponise
protect the public from Covid-19 while also the virus by spitting and coughing over
carrying out their usual duties. officers while claiming to have Covid. Crime
They knew they were putting their has now returned to more normal levels too.
health at risk, because so much of policing I want to put on record my thanks to all
cannot be done in a socially distanced officers, staff and volunteers for their
manner, but they also had in the back of commitment to policing during 2020. It has
their minds that they could pick up the virus definitely been a tough year both for those
and unwittingly take it back to their loved on the frontline and those who have had to
ones. Some officers took the difficult adapt to working from home. While I am
By Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police decision to move out of home so that they sure those home-working appreciate that
Federation didn’t put vulnerable family members at risk. they have not faced the same risks to their
So many of our Force team went above health, they have had their own challenges.
t’s now just over a year since I became and beyond to ensure that they could Working from home with young children is
the Federation chair. And what a year it continue to serve their communities, fight not easy and neither is working from a
Ihas been. and prevent crime, keep order, protect the dining room table in the midst of family life.
Of course, I came into the role knowing vulnerable, and, in addition, encourage The lack of separation between home and
there would be a number of challenges to people to abide by the Government work can be particularly difficult in policing.
face, the ongoing issues around police restrictions. It is also worth saying here that There are some things you need to leave at
pensions being top of that list, but more the seemingly ever-changing restrictions the office and I know that has taken its toll.
about that later. – which officers had to try to understand When taking on the chair’s role, I knew
However, while I am sure I hit the ground and then work with the public to follow – that there was a lot of anger and frustration
running and soon adapted to the life of a added to the challenges they faced. within the membership around the pensions
full-time Federation official, just like almost The public got behind us and a recent issue and it was something I was keen to
everyone else I was unprepared for survey has shown that they have largely address.

terms of ensuring that officers and staff had “ So many of our Force team went above and
While we all accept that we cannot
supported our efforts. But this has not been
everything being turned upside down when
the pandemic struck.

When the first lockdown was
announced, the Force acted swiftly to enable
beyond to ensure that they could continue to
as many people as was practical and possible
serve their communities, fight and prevent
to work from home, buying more than 1,000
laptops, for example. It was also prompt in
access to the personal protective equipment crime, keep order, protect the vulnerable, and,
(PPE) they needed. in addition, encourage people to abide by the
I am keen to acknowledge that the Force Government restrictions.
responded well as the crisis unfolded.
However, I think it’s those who have been “

04 federation December 2020/January 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids