The magazine of North Yorkshire Police Federation

Helping COPS to help the families of cops www.nypolfed.org.uk

Winter 2015

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CONTENTS Austerity with a vengeance

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Compulsory Severance

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National Bravery Awards 7 Police Pension Scheme 2015

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What has the Federation ever done for me? 10 Every care is taken to ensure that advertisements are acceptable only from “Bona Fide” advertisers. The Police Federation cannot accept any liability for losses incurred by any person as a result of a default on party of an advertiser. Federation Express is the magazine of North Yorkshire Police Federation. Its purpose is to keep our members informed on all that their Federation is involved in, to stimulate debate on relevant issues and promote member services. The views expressed in the magazine are those either of its component Board, officers or representatives, unless other wise stated. Contributions may be sent in confidence to the Editor, (who reserves the right to amend or edit all material as necessary, where possible with the consent of the contributor) at: Federation Express, Police Federation Office, Police Station, Castlegate, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8AR. This magazine is produced and printed on behalf of the North Yorkshire Police Federation by The Ark Design & Print Ltd, 47 Kent Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS29 9BB, Tel: 0113 256 8712, Fax: 0113 256 8724, Email: [email protected] www.thearkdesign.co.uk

Limited Duties

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PAY

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NATIONAL Police Memorial Day

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COPS Annual Service of Remembrance 18–19 North Yorkshire Police Award for Courage

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The Welfare Support Programme

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2013 – 2016 Joint Branch Board FULL TIME OFFICIALS Mike Stubbs JBB Chairman JBB Pensions & DWP lead JBB Misconduct Lead

Dave Horn JBB Secretary JBB Equality Lead JBB Professional Development Lead

Will Eastwood JBB Deputy Secretary/Treasurer JBB Health & Safety Lead

CRIME DIRECTORATE Scott Lister (CBB) Steve Paxton (SBB) Pete Martin (IBB)

RESPONSE & REASSURANCE DIRECTORATE Mick Lynch (CBB) Jerry Perrin (SBB) Mike Fenton (IBB) Dave Anderson (CBB) Nick Walther(SBB) Matt Hagen (IBB) Helen Saville (CBB) Lucy McNeill (SBB) Vacant (IBB) Mark Rees (CBB) Mark Hughes (SBB) Vacant (IBB) Bryan Townsend (CBB) Dave Hunter (SBB) Vacant (IBB)

Tony Barnes (CBB) Andy Walker (SBB) Vacant (IBB) OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE Brad Jackson (CBB) Paul Richardson (SBB) Rob Thorpe (IBB) Alan Murray (CBB) Heather Standing (SBB) Jacqui Raynor (IBB)

FEDERATION EXPRESS

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CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

Austerity with a vengeance

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usterity measures are being visited upon the police service with a vengeance. I use the phrase ‘with a vengeance’ after much careful consideration but that is what it is beginning to look like. It is not clear what the whole police service has done to offend the current administration but there appears to be no logic or reason behind the systemic dismantling of the police service as we know it. The Comprehensive Spending Review, due next month, is likely to demand further cuts to policing budgets of between 25 and 40%. At the same time, we await to see what the impact will be in North Yorkshire of the proposed reforms to the Police Funding Formula, which determines how much money each force receives from central government. For too long, the Police Federation, together with the Superintendents Association, have been lone voices in the wilderness, warning that cuts do have consequences. But now, across the country, Chief Constables and Police & Crime Commissioners are finally beginning to speak out publicly about the devastating impact that government policy is having. The Home Office may continue to dismiss those warnings as scaremongering and crying wolf but some sources of concern are less easy for them to ignore. In June, a report from the National Audit Office said, ‘While police forces in England and Wales have successfully reduced costs since 2011, they do not have a clear understanding of the demands placed upon them or of the factors that affect their costs. The Home Office also needs to be better

@NYPFJBB

Mike Stubbs.

informed to make sure forces are providing value for money.’ ‘The Department does not have good enough information to work out by how much it can reduce funding without degrading services, or when it may need to support individual forces.’ In September, the Public Accounts Committee warned that there was a “significant failure” by the Home Office to provide police forces with the support they need to maintain services amid budget cuts. “Neither the Home Office nor local forces really understand the impact of cuts to local policing,” committee chair Meg Hillier highlighted. “Too often cuts to services lead to ‘cost shunting’ with the police acting as the default support provider. There’s little understanding in the Home Office and in many forces of local demands.”

It is not clear what the whole police service has done to offend the current administration but there appears to be no logic or reason behind the systemic dismantling of the police service as we know it What of the Home Office response to all this? Spokespeople glibly trot out phrases such as ‘crime is falling’, ‘police reform is working’, and ‘it isn’t about officer numbers, it’s how they are deployed’, apparently in the hope that, if you repeat something often enough, people will believe it. Unfortunately, when protestors descended upon the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, some of them discovered that, sometimes, it is all about numbers. Here in North Yorkshire, we may still be one of the safest counties in England but crime is rising. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show a worrying trend, and the inclusion of cybercrime is starting to give the public a fuller picture. Cuts are having consequences.

North Yorkshire Police Federation FEDERATION EXPRESS

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COMMISSIONERS MANAGE CUTS

Compulsory Severance back on the agenda

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olice chiefs are considering whether they reluctantly ask the Home Secretary to introduce compulsory redundancy as an option for chiefs and Police and Crime Commissioners to manage significant further cuts to the service. 6

FEDERATION EXPRESS

An NPCC spokeswoman said “Police chiefs are thinking carefully about how we can continue to provide policing services to the public if there are further significant cuts to the policing grant in the Government Spending Review.  As part of this, chiefs will decide next month whether we

should reluctantly ask the Home Secretary to introduce compulsory redundancy as an option for chiefs and Police and Crime Commissioners.” Steve White, chair, Police Federation of England and Wales, said: ‘Compulsory severance is incompatible with the ability of police officers to do their job independently and we will fight it all the way. Giving forces the ability to make officers redundant introduces the possibility for undue pressure to be brought to bear should officers be involved in a politically-sensitive investigation. We don’t accept this is a sensible route to pursue and we believe the public will not accept it either.’ ‘Chief constables have been put in an impossible position but they shouldn’t be giving the Government a get out of jail free card by saying they are going to sack the very officers who have managed so well to deliver the service they have over the last four years. ‘ ‘What this suggestion does do is bring into sharp relief the choice facing this government: sack police officers or keep on board an outmoded and out of date 43-force structure which is now demonstrably obstructing the ability of officers to keep people safe independently without fear or favour.’ ‘The proposal to do away with neighbourhood policing to cope with the cuts is hugely worrying and puts in severe danger the whole principle of policing by consent on which the police service is based as the public will no longer have any ongoing relationship with their local officers.’ ‘This will represent a return to the bad old days where the only time the public saw an officer was when they whizzed by in a car on the way to an emergency call. All that ear-to-the-ground community intelligence will be lost. At a time when the threat to public safety and the public’s demands on policing are high and getting higher, scrapping neighbourhood policing teams is akin to throwing the lifejackets off a sinking boat because they’re too heavy.’

POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS

National Bravery Awards

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he Police Bravery Awards are presented annually to honour police officers who have performed outstanding acts of bravery whilst on or off duty. Nominated officers attend a reception at Downing Street and an evening awards ceremony. This year’s awards are being held at the Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 27 October 2015. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Police Bravery Awards and there are 64 nominees from 38 forces. North Yorkshire’s nominee is PC Richard Baranovsky Just before 7pm on Friday 18 July 2014, Richard was single crewed in a parked, marked patrol vehicle in Harrogate Town Centre. He was approached by two young men who told him that there was a man near Victoria Shopping Centre chasing people and brandishing a large knife. Richard drove near the scene and saw people running. He saw the man he was looking for, walking swiftly away from the scene along Station Parade. He called out to challenge the man who began to run. Richard gave chase, not knowing whether the suspect still had the knife. While he was attempting to flee, the suspect was knocked off balance providing Richard with an opportunity to catch and restrain him. He recovered a large, eight inch blade carving knife from the waistband of the detainee’s trousers. Soon after the suspect’s arrest it became apparent that he was responsible for stabbing a teenager in the leg, some moments earlier. A 22 year old man subsequently appeared at York Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding and possession of a bladed article. He entered a guilty plea. He was ordered to be detained at a specified centre without limit under the Mental Health Act 1987. Mike Stubbs, North Yorkshire Police Federation, said “PC Baranovsky showed courage and determination in single-handedly

apprehending a man, who had moments earlier stabbed someone in Harrogate town centre and then had brandished a large knife at other members of the public. He recognised the risk presented and gave chase, restrained and arrested him and deserves the nomination and recognition from it.” Chief Constable Dave Jones praised the officer, stating “The actions of PC Baranovsky are commendable - there is no doubt

that his quick thinking and response to the incident reduced the risk to other members of the community. Everyday, police officers across the country face incredibly difficult and dangerous situations, I see Police Officers as modern day heroes who walk towards harm to protect the lives of others. Pc Baranovsky and our many other award recipients are an inspiration to us all.”

FEDERATION EXPRESS

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JACK & SAM FUND

Jack & Sam Fund raises £30,000

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n January 2013, following the tragic death of PC Andrew Bramma, North Yorkshire Police Federation established a fund for the benefit of his two sons, Jack and Sam. Jack was then aged just 3 and Sam was only 11 months old. Since then, almost £30,000 has been raised, which we hope will enable Kathryn to give Jack and Sam at least the same opportunities that they would have had if Andrew had been there to provide for them throughout their childhood, into adolescence and beyond. We are extremely grateful to all

those who have made donations and raised funds to make this possible. We have now taken the decision to close the fund with effect from 30th November 2015. If anyone wishes to make a further donation, before the fund, they can be made by bank transfer to Unity Trust Bank, sort code 60 83 01, account number 20303088, account name NYPF Jack and Sam Fund – or by cheque payable to NYPF Jack and Sam Fund and posted to North Yorkshire Police Federation, The Police Station, Castlegate, Knaresborough, HG5 8AR.

Police Pension Scheme 2015

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ll our members should now have received, via Force email, an executive summary of legal advice

Facebook

obtained in respect of changes to police pensions. This advice was sought on your behalf by ourselves and our Region 2

For the last few years we have been running both a Facebook account and a Facebook page. We were told last month that, as an organisation, we 8

FEDERATION EXPRESS

were no longer allowed to operate the account. It has no been closed but we have been able to transfer all our ‘Facebook friends’ across to our Facebook page as ‘likes’. We use the Facebook page regularly

colleagues (Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland, Humberside, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire), independently of national advice obtained by PFEW. If you have not received this information, please email the Federation office. We know that members are still frustrated by the failure to provide forecasts from the pensions administrator. This is disappointing as this information will allay many of the fears of members who are moving to the CARE scheme. Some members in the 2006 pension scheme will find that the new scheme actually offers them a better pension package than they would have had under that scheme.

to update members with news and offers – you can find us on Facebook as ‘North Yorkshire Police Federation. If you haven’t already, please ‘like’ our page, and help us to keep you up to date with what is happening.

Linzi Perriman, Associate Solicitor

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MODERN DAY HEROES

What has the Federation ever done for me?

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any of you will have seen the extensive media coverage in June when PC Adam Steventon stood trial at Crown Court, facing an allegation of dangerous driving whilst on duty. After a trial which lasted four days, a jury took 45 minutes to find him not guilty of the charge. Adam was fully supported at all stages of the investigation by a specialist Police Federation solicitor. At trial, he was represented by leading counsel Adrian Keeling QC. Judge Paul Watson QC told him: “Adam Steventon, you are a police officer of 20 years standing. You are a highly-regarded professional officer. On March 12 last year you had to make a judgment call against a background of a lack of

training by your police force. You made that call in the belief it was in the best interests of the public. There will be others that say you deserve praise rather than prosecution. After all you, and your family has been through, it would be an affront to natural justice if you were to face any other internal disciplinary procedure. I hope that will not be the case.’ At the conclusion of the case, Police Federation Chairman Mike Stubbs, who supported Pc Steventon at court, said: “It is a hugely disappointing that this case ever came before a court. “Internal review processes could have identified the training issues which emerged during this case for all those involved, not just Pc Steventon. Instead a proactive and

effective officer has been on restricted duties for 15 months, to the detriment of the public of North Yorkshire. “Our Chief Constable holds the view that police officers are modern day heroes who walk towards harm to protect the lives of others and I fully agree with that sentiment. But the incidents which those modernday heroes deal with, do not always go exactly to plan - police officers should always be accountable to the law, but they also need the reassurance that they will be dealt with fairly and proportionately.” We have now asked North Yorkshire Police to review the processes which led to PC Steventon standing trial.

Ill Health Retirements and Injury Awards

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ederation membership doesn’t just offer vital protection in criminal and misconduct cases. A great deal of our time is spent assisting officers who are suffering from illness and injury. Sadly, for some, this can mean the end of their careers. But the processes which result in an officer being retired on medical grounds can be far from straightforward. Many problems revolve around whether an officer can be assessed as ‘permanently disabled from the ordinary duties of a constable’. This relies on medical evidence of the officer’s current situation and the prognosis for their condition, and the issues 10

FEDERATION EXPRESS

can be extremely complex. To assist the officer’s case, we may commission medical reports on their behalf. A single specialist’s report can cost well in excess of £1500. This may well be at a time when the officer concerned may have already been reduced to half pay – without the Police Federation to pick up the costs, members could find themselves in real financial difficulty. The assessment as to whether an officer is permanently disabled from the ordinary duties of a police constable is made by the Selected Medical Practitioner (SMP). Officers have the right to appeal the decision of the SMP, and may require legal advice or further

medical evidence to assist their case. Again, without Federation assistance, these costs may be prohibitive. Officers injured in the course of their duty may also be entitled to have their pension enhanced through an injury award. There can be difficulties in establishing that the medical condition did arise from their police duty, and also in determining the appropriate level of injury award. In the last 2 years alone, we have assisted or are continuing to assist around 30 of our members through these processes which can be complex, difficult and, at times, distressing for them.

OFFICERS WHO SUFFER

Limited Duties.

These new regulations took effect from 1 May 2015. JBB Deputy Secretary Will Eastwood explains how they may impact on officers who suffer injury or ill-health.

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he Police Federation of England and Wales has severe reservations about the potential discriminatory impact upon officers with a protected characteristic. Given the complexity of this issue and the need for future monitoring of the equalities impact in forces, the Home Office has set a review date for the determination. This will be 18 months after the determination came into effect. Implementation

and ongoing use of these measures will be monitored by the Police Advisory Board of England and Wales (PABEW) and the impact of any pay adjustments will be monitored by the Police Remuneration Review Body. ‘Limited duties’ is the term used to describe some circumstances in which officers may be unable to undertake the full range of police duties. The two categories subject of this legislation is, Recuperative

Duties and Adjusted Duties (there will also be officers on Management Limited duties who are not affected). Recuperative Duties is defined as duties falling short of full deployment, undertaken by a police officer following an injury, accident, illness or medical incident, during which the officer adapts to and prepares for a return to full duties and the full hours for which they are paid, and is assessed FEDERATION EXPRESS

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OFFICERS WHO SUFFER

to determine whether he or she is capable of making such a return. Adjusted Duties is defined as duties falling short of full deployment, in respect of which workplace adjustments (including reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010) have been made to overcome barriers to working. For an officer to be placed on adjusted duties, he/she must: a) Be attending work on a regular basis; b) Be working the full number of hours for which he/she is paid (in either a full time or part time role). Any temporary limitations to an officers’ deployability arising from pregnancy or breastfeeding or because the outcome of a misconduct investigation is awaited are excluded from the scope of these arrangements. These are matters for the sensible management of human resources. A fully deployable officer will generally demonstrate all the following core capabilities: • the ability to sit for reasonable periods, to write, read, use the telephone and to use (or learn to use) IT; • the ability to run, walk reasonable distances, and stand for reasonable periods; • the ability to make decisions and report situations to others; • the ability to evaluate information and to record details; • the ability to exercise reasonable physical force in restraint and retention in custody; • the ability to understand, retain 12

FEDERATION EXPRESS

and explain facts and procedures; • the ability to work the full range of shifts (earlies, lates and nights). The key considerations in decisions around the posting of officers on adjusted duties into appropriate roles are: • The workplace adjustments that could reasonably be accommodated (including adjustments to the range of duties) in order for the officer to be capable of performing the role in question. These could include, for example, adjustments to the officer’s duties, hours of work, the provision of special IT equipment or IT, adjustments to the work environment etc. • Whether it is reasonable for the force to make those adjustments to that role. This would include consideration of operational resilience issues alongside the capabilities of the individual such as: health and safety risk assessment, cost, impact of adjustments on colleagues and team/ force performance, whether adjustments have been made for others etc. • The context of the totality of the police officer workforce, the number of vacancies available and the needs of disabled officers and officers returning from maternity leave as well as any other

statutory duties which may apply. • A trial period (determined by the force) to assess whether the individual can fulfil the role with reasonable adjustments. Police officers are covered by the Equality Act 2010. They are also covered by European legislation. Disability is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 which places a duty on employers to consider and make adjustments where reasonable. Larger employers such as police forces will need to demonstrate that they have considered all reasonable adjustments in the context of operational resilience. Where forces can reasonably make adjustments, they must do so. Forces should approach deployment in a creative way to enable all officers to be deployed in ways that are commensurate to their capabilities by removing barriers and disadvantages wherever it is reasonable to do so. The decision to place you onto adjusted duties should take into account medical evidence and professional advice on matters such as the appropriateness of adjustments and the impact of the Equality Act 2010. If you disagree with the medical advice on whether or not you are ‘fully deployable’ you can ask for a second medical opinion. Within 28 days the force should arrange for you to be examined by a different registered medical practitioner. The second medical opinion will be final.

Police officers are covered by the Equality Act 2010. They are also covered by European legislation.

X FACTOR

PAY

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fter nine months on adjusted duties, you must be notified in writing that should you remain on adjusted duties, following your 12 month management review, you may be subject to the loss of the deployability element of the x factor payment (or more simply, the x-factor). The value of the x-factor is: • 8% of basic pay for constables; and • 8% of basic pay for all other ranks, capped at 8% of the maximum of constables’ pay. If it is concluded at the 12 month management review that you should remain on adjusted duties the person(s) who conducted the review should make a recommendation to the delegated authority nominated by the chief officer as to whether you should:

•

Remain on adjusted duties; and • Sustain a deduction in pay. A chief officer may decide that the x-factor should be retained in the following circumstances: • The range of roles to which the force is able to deploy the officer is not significantly reduced. • The avoidance of manifest unfairness e.g. where fully fit officers are performing the same range of duties within a role as an officer on adjusted duties. • An officer is on adjusted duties solely as the result of an injury sustained or contracted in the course of having put themselves in harm’s way in the execution of their duties (see Annex A of the guidance for examples).

Your North Yorkshire Federation Branch 01423 866342

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our elected representatives have and continue to meet regularly at a senior level to influence the NYP Policies and Procedures affecting this change. Should any potential breaches of regulations or equality legislation become apparent, we will assist you in seeking the most appropriate remedy. This could range from a simple intervention at a local level to funded legal action (subscribing members). NYP Federation also operates or facilitates several schemes which could assist you in gaining an earlier recovery from injury or

illness and so avoid any adverse impact from these Regulations: Police Treatment Centres – a rehabilitative facility, with trained physiotherapists. This provides in and outpatient services to subscribers, with treatment in work time. http://www. thepolicetreatmentcentres.org/ NYP Federation Group Insurance – covering many aspects of your everyday insurance needs at an amazing price, including ensuring you are medically covered while on holiday. This also includes access to RedArc: ‘We give people the practical and emotional support that helps transform their

• Some other exceptional reason (some examples of what would not generally be considered exceptional are provided in Annex A of the guidance but the decision about what is classed as an exceptional reason should be made locally. If the relevant officer decides that you should sustain a pay reduction, you must be notified in writing of the decision. You must be given one month’s notice of any deduction of the deployment element of x-factor from pay.

NYP Federation Group Insurance – covering many aspects of your everyday insurance needs whole experience of illness, disability, trauma or bereavement, and we do it because for us it’s instinctive’. http://www.redarc.co.uk/index. php NYP Federation Private Medical Scheme – a non-profit member’s scheme designed to provide excellent levels of access to medical treatment for a wide range of conditions when you need it. http://www.nypolfed.org.uk/ member-services/health-scheme/ Further advice on anything in this article, call: 01423 866342. Email: federat@northyorkshire. pnn.police.uk FEDERATION EXPRESS

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TIME FOR REFLECTION

NATIONAL Police Memorial Day

NATIONAL Police Memorial Day is a day of “massive significance” to the families of officers who have died in the line of duty.

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ike Stubbs, Chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, described the annual service of remembrance as a “special occasion” for families of fallen officers from his force area. He said: “It’s a very important day for the families we’ve brought from North Yorkshire.” Mr Stubbs added: “It’s a day of massive significance for them. We’ve always supported the families in attending – our welfare fund meets travelling and accommodation costs each year. “We’re very grateful to the serving officers of North Yorkshire who contribute to that and make that possible for us to bring the families here. “And it’s a very emotional occasion for everybody, but also a gathering of old friends. They’re all friends together, we’re friends with them. In attendance this year were the families of Police Constable David Ian Haigh Died 17 June 1982, aged 29 Fatally wounded when he was shot in the head by a suspect he was questioning in a car in the early morning at Norwood Edge Plantation near Harrogate. Police Constable Keith Summerbell Died 20 September 1982, aged 26 Killed while undergoing police motorcycle training when his machine went out of control on a bend and he collided with an oncoming lorry. Special Constable Glenn Thomas Goodman Died 7 June 1992, aged 37 While on mobile patrol with a regular officer, they were questioning two men in a car in the early hours near Tadcaster when, without warning, both officers were

shot and he was fatally wounded Police Constable Richard Ellerker Died 26 December 1993, aged 42 Whilst on foot patrol in York he arrested a drunk and violent male. Sustaining injuries, a short while later he collapsed and died of a heart attack. Police Constable Glenn Robinson Died 27 July 2005, aged 46 Killed in a road accident while returning home from duty at Skipton when his motorcycle was in collision with a car on the A59 near Kettlestring. More than 1,200 police officers of all ranks, politicians and families of fallen officers attended the service in Edinburgh on Sunday 27 September. Mr Stubbs said it is important for the service to show that fallen officers are never forgotten. He added: “It is really a very, very important part for the families because, while everyone else in the

“We’re very grateful to the serving officers of North Yorkshire who contribute to that and make that possible for us to bring the families here. organisation moves on after the tragedies that lead to these deaths, for the relatives, of course, they can never really move on. “They feel the loss of their loved ones very, very deeply and days like this mean that it’s an opportunity for the police service to show that we haven’t forgotten them.” FEDERATION EXPRESS

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NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

More than 100 cyclists and support crew, including police officers, police staff and families of fallen officers, left the National Police Memorial at the Mall in London on 24 July and arrived at the National Memorial CARE of Police Survivors allows the relatives Arboretum in of fallen police officers to feel like they remain Staffordshire on 26 July in time for part of the police family, the Secretary of the COPS Service North Yorkshire Police Federation has said. of Remembrance.

North Yorkshire Police Federation raises funds for COPS

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ave Horn, pictured in cycling gear handing a cheque to COPS President Denis Gunn, had just ridden to the charity’s annual Service of Remembrance from London as part of the Police Unity Tour. Dave said: “It’s important… to remember our colleagues who pay the ultimate sacrifice, and it’s to show to the families that they’re still remembered “When the person that was serving within the police dies, we don’t want to make them feel that that link is then gone. We want to make sure that they still feel part of the family and that we’re still there to support them when they need us.” Dave was able to present COPS with a cheque for more than £2,000 raised at the Federation’s charity dinner in 2014.

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FEDERATION EXPRESS

Dave was also part of this year’s Police Unity Tour for Care of Police Survivors. More than 100 cyclists and support crew, including police officers, police staff and families of fallen officers, left the National Police Memorial at the Mall in London on 24 July and arrived at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 26 July in time for the COPS Service of Remembrance. Every cyclist rides in memory of a fallen officer and they are given a bracelet with a late officer’s name, force and last date of duty engraved on it. This is then handed over to one of the officer’s surviving family members when the Unity Tour arrives at the National Memorial Arboretum. This year Dave rode in memory of Andrew Bramma The cyclists rode 170 miles over

three days – from London to Staffordshire – to raise money for the charity, which supports the families of officers who have lost their lives on duty. Speaking about the 170 mile Police Unity Tour, which raised a magnificent £75,000, Dave said: “It was very hard work! Friday was interesting. When we got back to the hotel we found we’d had a months rain in twenty-four hours so mostly it was inside my trainers by the time we’d got there. “When we got there we enjoyed ourselves, good sense of humour, was cracking jokes all the way, so it wasn’t too bad really. “I’m doing it again next year. I retire in May but they’ve already got my personal email address so… I’ll be here again next year.”

NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

COPS Annual Service of Remembrance

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HERE was emotion and humour as police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance. Surviving family members and serving police officers gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday July 26 to pay respects to officers who have died on duty.  The service in Staffordshire – not dampened by constant rain – was attended by more than 500 people Events took place all weekend for surviving family members. They were attending the biggest ever COPS weekend. The charity now has more than 300 survivors, the event heard. During the 70 minute service on Sunday, survivors – a father, a sister, a son and a wife – recalled their loss and how the charity had helped them in their time of need. Harri Jones, son of PC Stanley Jones, of Surrey Police, was nine years old when his father died on duty. “Care of Police Survivors became mum’s lifeline offering her endless support and encouragement on days when she felt she could not go on,” he told the service. He described how COPS – and coming to a Survivors Weekend – had helped him make “friends – or should I say family – for life.” And he recalled how he recently went on his first “lad’s holiday” with a fellow survivor. “I hope my old man wasn’t looking down on us too well,” he joked. Harri concluded: “We in turn now offer support and encouragement to the younger children who have found themselves part of the COPS family. COPS was there when we needed them most and you were there to help us rebuild our

shattered lives.” The Roll of Honour for the five police officers who died on duty during the last 12 months was read out by COPS’ President Denis Gunn. Those remembered this year were PC Neil Doyle, of Merseyside Police, PC David Arthur, The Met, PC Jonathan Relph, The Met, PC Kevin Stoodley, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, PC Russ Wylie, Humberside Police. Sir Keith Povey, Patron of the Charity, said: “The primary objective of COPS is to help surviving families rebuild their shattered lives after the tragic loss of as officer in an on duty death. “The charity provides help and support wherever possible to help those survivors cope with that tragedy but also to ensure that they remain a member of the police family. “Whilst I know survivors value the bonds that are formed, I also know that you need to remain a member of the police family. And that is why it is so important to see so many of the force representatives here.” Chief officers from all UK forces, the Home Office and staff associations were amongst those that took time to pay their respects and lay wreaths. “Your presence is valued immensely by survivors,” added Sir Keith. The West Midlands Police band and a lone piper provided accompanying music. There was laughter and applause when a speaker poked fun at Chief Constables getting soaked laying their wreaths. Prior to the service, The Blue Knights motorcyclists arrived in procession to pay their respects, they were also joined by officers on more than 100 UK Police Unity Tour cyclists who had ridden up in

convoy from London – and were joined from others across the country. Addressing the service was Don Speakman, whose son PC Jonathan Speakman, of Cheshire Police, died on holiday in Australia after rescuing a child swept out to sea. He described his son as a practical joker and his best friend. Don said: “It’s ten years since Jonathan died. It was important for me to get the right balance of laughter and tears, and I think I did that. And I managed to get through it.” He added: “I didn’t get involved in COPS for two years after Jonathan’s death, because being a typical ex-policeman I thought I could deal with it. This organisation is tremendous. “The peer support you get is absolutely wonderful. “Everybody comes to a weekend like this knowing that all the people around you are all in the same boat, in one way or another, and therefore you don’t have to explain anything to anybody, you don’t have to be apologetic or anything like that, you just be yourself and you know there are people there to support you.”

Events took place all weekend for surviving family members. They were attending the biggest ever COPS weekend. FEDERATION EXPRESS

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POLICE AWARD CEREMONY

North Yorkshire Police Federation sponsor first North Yorkshire Police Award for Courage

The Joint Branch Board are sponsoring the award for courage at the North Yorkshire Police Awards ceremony which will be held in York on 23rd October 2015

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orth Yorkshire Police asked the public to nominate members of the policing family who have made a difference within their local community. For the first time, the public have been able to nominate an individual who has gone above and beyond their day to day duties and have demonstrated one of three core behaviours - courage, compassion or inspiration - whilst keeping their local community safe. The finalists facing the public vote included: • PC Richard Baranovsky from Harrogate, who chased down a town-centre knifeman, who was carrying an eight-inch blade. • PC Suzanne Asquith from York, who despite her own illness has launched two inspirational projects for young people across the county • PC Mark Reed from Richmond, we entered a house alone to save a highly distressed woman wielding a knife from a suicide attempt • Police Community Support Officer Jason Lloyd from Northallerton, who has championed the needs of people with learning difficulties, and built better

relationships between people with disabilities and the police • Staff member Antony Byrne from York, who responded to cries for help to play his part in a river rescue • Detective Constable Jeremy Pratt from Scarborough, who has been recognised for the support he provides to victims’ families in complex murder cases • Sergeant Ed Simpson from Harrogate, who is leading the way in breaking down taboos about mental health in the emergency services • Representatives from the Serious Crime Team, who have been praised by families for their sensitive handling of child abuse cases • PC Peter Henderson from Thirsk, who has a record number of arrests to his name, and who is tackling theft head-on in his local community Police Federation Chair, Mike Stubbs, explained why the Joint Branch Board had chosen to support the award for courage, ‘The Police Federation of England & Wales host the national police bravery awards each year, so it was entirely fitting that we should support this recognition within our own force.’

He added ‘These awards are an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the outstanding work of our members, and their police staff and volunteer colleagues. The media seem all too ready to seize on any perceived failings, whilst daily examples of brave and brilliant policing go unnoticed. Our members don’t do their job for recognition, but it is important that the public understand just what North Yorkshire Police officers, staff and volunteers are doing on their behalf every day.’’ Commenting on the Public Choice Award nominees, North Yorkshire Police’s Chief Constable, Dave Jones, said: “People who work at North Yorkshire Police do outstanding things every day, but these nine nominees really do demonstrate the values of courage, compassion and inspiration that we stand for as an organisation.  The Public Choice Award is a great way for us to showcase the work of North Yorkshire Police - which is often broader than people expect.” Commenting on the Awards and nominees, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan, said: “This is the first time that we have had a Public Choice Award as part of the Annual Award Ceremony, and I urge the public to get behind it and show their support by voting.” FEDERATION EXPRESS

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OFFICER SUPPORT

The Welfare Support Programme

The Welfare Support Programme (W.S.P.) is the new distinctive system of support for officers that has been developed by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA) and is ready to offer officers and their families a more personal way to deal with life’s pressures.

“

Overnight stardom can be harmful to your mental health. Yeah. It has ruined a lot of people.” Clint Eastwood Most people don’t join the police to become famous. They don’t join to become household names and have their lives scrutinised by the general public but choose to become police officers from a sense of public service, duty and the desire to protect their communities from criminals and bullies. To carry out their role, police officers are trained to deal with situations that range from giving simple advice to dealing with major incidents and everything else in between and, most of the time, the training gives the officer a sound platform from which to carry out their role. But as police officers all know, the ‘job’ has a habit of turning sour very quickly and a simple call to someone shouting in the street can turn out to be a scene where a victim has been seriously wounded and officers have to use lawful force to detain the suspect, maybe with hand strike, maybe with a baton, maybe with a Taser or a firearm. After all, officers are trained in openhanded skills, batons and some officers in Taser and firearms; but all are trained in 22

FEDERATION EXPRESS

the law around the use of force. Where the training doesn’t really ‘cut it’ is what comes after the incident – where the officer and their actions are looked at and scrutinised and where they achieve unwanted ‘overnight stardom’, through their names and actions being printed in press articles or discussed in the media by the ‘hindsight’ experts or so called policing experts. Post Incident Procedure (PIP) and Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) are some of the options available to support officers and, together with Federation support, occupational health, colleagues and families, they develop into a support network that helps identify issues at an early stage or assist in monitoring the officer through what is sometimes a lengthy investigation into their actions. Although excellent in what they do, these support systems sometimes don’t fit everyone’s needs and can leave families of the officer feeling separated from the support that, after all, is primarily focussed on the officer. Something was needed to support officers and their families together and not only when the officer was involved in a PIP but when the officer was cut off from colleague support or just

when they needed that extra platform on which to rely on when things weren’t going as they should. Federation figures for last year show that 40 officers took their own lives – 11 whilst they were suspended. These are haunting figures and perhaps reveal that although there are a number of systems available for officers, there is still a broad gap in the care and welfare of officers that needs to be addressed urgently. The PFEW recognised this and entered into discussion with Mark Williams from the PFOA to find a solution. The result of the meeting was the creation of the Welfare Support Programme (WSP) that started on June 1st and is available for the use of all federated ranks and their families across the country. The WSP offers a 24 hour, 365 days a year telephone support line for officers and their families where they can speak directly to our trained staff regarding the issues that concern them. Our telephone staff have had training in police discipline procedures, post incident procedures, as well as being certificated in mental health first aid and are ready to listen to officer’s and their family’s concerns so they can help them gain the best support available. If appropriate, and with the permission from the caller, the WSP staff can evidence issues directly to the Federation and therefore shorten the time needed to obtain coaching or counselling if this is considered by the Federation to be an appropriate course of action. This is unique in that it not only allows officers to contact independent support directly, but it also allows family members to do the same, giving them the chance to deal with their concerns immediately and through the same network that supports the officer.

OFFICER SUPPORT The WSP is available to all serving police officers who are members of the Federation and become part of a death or serious injury at work that results in a post incident investigation and/or are suspended from duty or, following a consultation with the PFEW & PFOA, it is decided that an officer is in need of being placed on the programme. The family of officers that fall into these criteria are also fully supported by the WSP and include immediate family, partners, family living in the same household as the officer and any dependents of the officer. Rob Venables, Merseyside Police Federation Support and Welfare Rep states “We have integrated the Welfare Support Programme into our suite of support measures that we utilise for our officers who are vulnerable when facing exceptional pressures. The number of calls to the line demonstrates the confidence that officers have in the WSP already. We are particularly impressed by the caring attitude of all the staff working on the initiative.” The WSP has been live from the 1st June 2015 and so far 58 officers have registered with them from 16 forces that has resulted in a number of calls from officers and their family members asking for support or advice. The WSP has been able to take their concerns directly to a Federation single point of contact (SPOC) for each force and together develop a plan of action to address the concerns of the callers. The action plans between the WSP and the SPOC change from call to call but, as an example to the large differences in concerns, one case entailed an urgent call to a SPOC as the officer required immediate support as WSP staff were concerned about the officer’s mental health, and another call was from a family member asking for advice on how to cope with changes at home due to the officer’s suspension. The wide range of calls received so far addresses the need for the service and highlights our key function in offering immediate independent support and advice to our callers and then helping them take it forward with the Federation

and other support services. Assisting an officer with NLP coaching showed a further example of the good liaison between the WSP and local Federation branch board. After talking with the officer, the WSP contacted the officer’s SPOC and identified to him issues that were affecting the officer and offered a solution through NLP coaching. The SPOC approached the branch board with a request to fund the NLP coaching and they agreed to the request. NLP coaching is an excellent way of addressing our callers’ concerns and the PFOA has a number of coaches who can carry out this work should they be required. Using PFOA coaches has a number of advantages as they are all serving or ex-police officers and therefore have an understanding of policing and it’s system; they follow the same confidentiality rules adopted by the WSP and the PFOA so thereby ensuring that confidentiality within those rules is guaranteed and, finally, they have great experience in supporting police officers and their families from their work with the PFOA over a number of years. Tom Cuddeford, Deputy Chair, Joint Branch Board, West Midlands Police Federation states “Since the introduction of the Federation Welfare Support Programme in June this year, as West Midlands Police Federation SPOC, I have started signposting eligible members to the Programme. All of whom have really appreciated this channel of support, above what the Force offers officers. I have just come off the telephone to one of our members, who has also received coaching from the Programme. He informs me that it was a weight off his mind to be able to talk to someone totally separate to the on-going Investigation regarding a death in custody and felt far better after speaking to the very engaging coaching individual. As SPOC I will definitively be promoting this Programme for the benefit of our hard working members, who on occasions, have to deal with very extreme situations.” The WSP will lead by example.

The WSP offers a 24 hour, 365 days a year telephone support line for officers and their families. British police officers provide the best policing in the world for the British public in their time of need, so isn’t it right and proper that our police officers can expect in their time of need, the best support available to them? The WSP will be there for them and we intend to develop our services and work with our support partners to create a first class organisation that gives officers and their families the care they really need when they really need it. The WSP is a two year pilot scheme which is directly funded by the PFEW and the PFOA, and it is vitally important that during this period it grows to benefit officers and their families therefore ensuring that the deep financial cuts across the public service do not remove the crucial support required by officers and they can continue their work safe in the knowledge that someone is ‘watching their back’. Policing is changing and the likelihood of gaining ‘overnight stardom’ will only increase as officers take on more dynamic roles and subsequently encounter the scrutiny from the Independent Police Complaints Commission that follows when an incident occurs. Officers have never stood alone under such scrutiny and now the WSP will stand with them and their families ensuring they have the best support available – ‘We care we do’. If you would like further information on the WSP please e-mail Stuart Haythorn, Welfare Support Officer for the WSP at [email protected] or call on 07841 583631 FEDERATION EXPRESS

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