'A Strange Time to Be Joining the Police Service'– See April's Story on Page 12
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
federationWest Midlands Police Federation August/September 2020 ‘A strange time to be joining the police service’ – See April’s story on Page 12 www.polfed.org/westmids Fixed Fee Divorce West Midlands Police + VAT* Divorce and Children Law Specialists FREE£350 first appointment McAlister Family Law is the country’s leading provider of police divorce and family services. Whether you are facing divorce and are worried about the impact on your pension or are seeking contact with your children or any other family law dispute, we are here to help. • Leaders in police divorce and children cases. • Over 20 years’ experience in representing police officers facing divorce and children disputes. • Experts in police pensions and divorce. • Fixed fees and discounted rates for police officers and personnel. *Conditions apply. See website for details. McAlister Family Law. Amanda McAlister 2nd Floor, Commercial Wharf, 6 Commercial Street, Manchester M15 4PZ Managing Partner www.mcalisterfamilylaw.co.uk 0333 202 6433 MFL A4 Police Divorce Advert.indd 1 20/03/2020 09:36 Welcome What’s inside Welcome to the August/September 2020 edition of federation - the 04 Chair’s introduction 21 Retirement seminars re-start magazine for members of West Midlands Police Federation. 05 Office staff returning to 22 Virtual run aims to boost ACC’s We are always on the look-out for Guardians House fund-raising appeal good news stories so please get in touch if you have something to share 05 Force considers bonus for 23 Have your say on pay and with colleagues. It does not have to tutors morale relate to your policing role – though we are definitely interested in hearing 06 Pay increase is a step in the 25 New policy on DSI about what’s going on around the right direction says Fed chair Force. Do you have an interesting 25 Regs reminder: short notice hobby or perhaps you are involved in 09 Working group will consider change to duties sport locally, as a player, a manager, a pensions challenge coach? 25 Specials set to be allowed to Just get in touch and let us know. 09 Consultation on remedy joind the Federation We would also be interested to hear what you would like to see featured in 10 Assaults on Police Employees 26 ‘Tough and tenacious’ - a your magazine. 10 Point Plan tribute to former branch Cover photo: PC April Baker has secretary Ernie and a life well 11 Mental impact of assaults has joined the Force after volunteering led as a Special but her initial training to be considered has been very different to what she 28 Benevolent Fund benefits expected. See Page 12 for her story. 11 Sentences could be doubled for resume Published by: officer assaults XPR (UK) Ltd 29 Survey reveals sleep 12 New recruit April gives insight Editor: deprivation John Nott, chair into training during the Deputy editor: Chris Cooper, pandemic 29 Family Matters moves into the Member services team leader virtual world [email protected] 13 Roads policing ‘inadequate’ Design and sub-editing: 30 TFS adapts to pandemic XPR (UK) Ltd 14 Root and branch overhaul Contact us: needed 30 Dates set for online exam Guardians House, 2111 Coventry Road, 14 Increased scrutiny 31 Helping the police family Sheldon, Birmingham, B26 3EA 15 ’We need re-investment’ 33 Get motoring with your Telephone: Federation 0121 752 4900 15 Roads policing: have your say Email: 35 Treatment of police pensions [email protected] 16 New Federation representative on divorce www.polfed.org/westmids puts focus on fairness Federation is printed by XPR (UK) Ltd on behalf 35 Federation seeks feedback on 17 George receives Chief of West Midlands Police Federation. women’s uniform The articles published do not necessarily reflect Constable’s Award the views of the Branch Council. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any material submitted. 18 ‘I knew I had to get out of Every care is taken to ensure that policing’ advertisements are accepted only from bona fide advertisers. The Police Federation cannot accept liability for losses incurred by any person as a result of a default on the part of an advertiser. All material is copyright and may not be Advertisers reproduced without the express permission of 02 McAlister, family law 32 NARPO, member services the editor. 08 George Burrows, financial health check 32 Gorvins, police and family law 20 George Burrows, RAC breakdown cover 33 Warren & Co, independent 24 Police Insure, motor, home, motorcycle mortgage advice and travel insurance 34 Slater & Gordon, family law 30 Irwin Mitchell, family law 36 Slater & Gordon, police law 31 First Call Financial, independent mortgage advice www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2020 03 Chair’s introduction ‘It doesn’t seem to me that justice has been served’ time when, to be honest, it didn’t seem that murder in its seriousness. That is so, here.” they could be. Yet, the maximum sentence for A week before I wrote this piece, news manslaughter is life in prison. They could broke that the three teenagers had been have been given life sentences. cleared of the brave PC’s murder but had But instead it is PC Harper’s widow, been convicted of manslaughter. Lissie, his parents, his family and his friends PC Harper’s widow, Lissie, slammed the who have the life sentence. Our hearts go jury for their decision saying it was ‘utterly out to them. shocking and appalling’. It does not seem to me that justice has As I write this, the sentencing has just been served, and Lissie clearly feels the been announced. Jessie Cole and Albert same. A few days after the sentencing, she Bowers, both 18, each received 13 years in launched a campaign for ‘Andrew’s Law’ to prison. Getaway driver Henry Long (19) was ensure those convicted of killing police given 16 years after a 25 per cent reduction officers and other emergency service in his sentence as he had pleaded guilty. workers face life in prison. In all honesty, I was surprised they were I do not find myself agreeing with former cleared of murder. But, at that point, I Prime Minister Theresa May too often but reserved judgement – or comment – in the back in May 2013, when she was Home hope that the sentence handed down by the Secretary, I was at the Federation’s annual judge would reflect the horrific nature of PC conference when she said that criminals Harper’s death. who kill police officers would face By Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police The judge, Mr Justice Edis, said: compulsory whole life sentences. Federation “Manslaughter cases range greatly in She stressed that to kill a police officer seriousness. Sometimes death may be was ‘to attack the fundamental basis of our hen the news started to break in caused by an act of gross carelessness, society’ and I couldn’t agree more. mid-August last year that a police sometimes it is very close to a case of It is for this reason that, as a Federation, Wofficer had been killed on duty, I don’t think anyone could have expected the As a Federation, we have pushed so hard for horrific circumstances of his death that slowly came out over the next few days. PC Andrew Harper was just 28 when he tougher sentences on those who assault police died. He had only been married for four weeks. The release of some of his wedding officers and we believe those who kill police“ photos in the aftermath of the tragedy only “ compounded the heart-breaking nature of his brutal death. officers should get a life sentence. And we But during the trial of the three teenagers involved in the incident more details came out that would only serve to believe life should mean life too. make everything seem so much worse, at a 04 federation August/September 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids we have pushed so hard for tougher sentences on those who assault police officers and we believe those who kill police officers should get a life sentence. And we Office staff returning believe life should mean life too. We believe these attacks are an attack on society too. to Guardians House It would appear that the current Home Secretary Priti Patel agrees with us too. She The Federation’s office administration number of people at Guardian’s House at has started a consultation period on plans team has been making a staged return to any one time so, while calls can once again to increase the maximum sentence for Guardians House since the start of August. been made to the office, an improved these attacks from one year to two years in The move comes after Prime Minister answerphone service will be in operation. prison. We welcome this development. Boris Johnson announced an end to the Members are advised not to visit the However, it is going to be completely Government’s ‘work from home’ guidance office without making an appointment meaningless if the sentencing powers are and stated that staff who had been first. increased and yet the courts and judges working from home during the pandemic In the event of a local lockdown, the don’t use the maximum sentences available should now consider returning to the team will revert to agile working. to them. workplace. Throughout the pandemic, the As a Federation, we will continue to The phased return to the office started Federation’s full-time officials have push for this to be the case. on 3 August and will build to a full return continued to use Guardians House as In more positive news, and as you will during week commencing 31 August.