Gwent-Forum-Winter-2019.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WINTER 2019 FORUMThe magazine of Gwent Police Federation Federation celebrates centenary - see Pages 6 to 9 www.gwentpf.org l Representing l Influencing l Negotiating Helping the Police Family financially No1 CopperPot C R E D I T U N I O N Stress-free savings and loans We are here to look after you, so sit back and relax Save as little as £5 per month directly from your payroll. With our easy access savings account you can withdraw without penalties. You can repay loans direct from your payroll. Why not visit our loan calculator to see how much your repayments would be? Visit www.no1copperpot.com All loans and mortgages are subject to affordability and our lending criteria. Your savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000. You can hold a maximum of £40,000 with us across all saving accounts. Number One Police Credit Union Limited trading as No1 CopperPot Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 213301. For details visit http://www.fca.org.uk. CONTENTS Helping the Police Family financially No1 CopperPot View from the chair 3 View from the chair C R E D I T U N I O N Financial worries affecting almost half By Maria Henry, chair of Gwent Police that the police service is not just talking about our officers 4 Federation wellbeing but is actually acting on wellbeing. Our Force has always been better than most in Wellbeing day attracts 200 people 5 s this is the last edition of our members’ this area, I think, and we have recently had a Chair issues statement on pensions 5 Amagazine for this year, it seemed very successful wellbeing day (see Page 5). This appropriate to look back on the events of 2019. will be followed up with another day in 2020 so POLICE FEDERATION CENTENARY It has, of course, been a very busy year for I hope we – and other forces - can build on CELEBRATIONS the police service as, once again, officers have these. ‘I’m on your side and I’ve got your back’ 6 done their utmost to serve and protect their By contrast, in looking back over 2019, it communities despite seemingly ever- has not been difficult to identify some notable Stress-free savings and loans Is it time for a Royal Commission on increasing demand and reduced resources. low points. We all feel it when a police policing? 7 From a Force perspective, we have seen big colleague is killed in the line of duty. But I think changes at the top with a new Chief the tragic death of PC Andrew Harper of Policing priorities considered in panel We are here to look after you, so sit back and relax Constable, DCC and ACC all taking their posts Thames Valley Police deeply affected us all. Our session 7 during the year. thoughts remain with his widow, his parents, ‘What matters most’: officers give their Within the Federation branch, there have his family, his friends and, of course, his Thames views of Federation support 9 been changes too with Vickie Day retiring as Valley colleagues. secretary and Nicky Ryan taking over. You can Sadly, on 21 August 2019 we lost PC 1792 Pledge on officer assaults sentences 9 read more about Nicky on Pages 10 and 11. Rhys Kelleher. Rhys was only 28 when he Save as little as £5 per month directly from your Nicky gets to grips with secretary role 10 For me, the year has had the usual mix of passed and had been an officer since 2017. ups and downs. Despite being a member of Gwent Police for a payroll. With our easy access savings account ‘It feels right to give something back’ 11 On an extremely positive note, I cannot tell short time, he made a huge impact on Annalea keen to help colleagues 11 you how proud I was to accompany our very everyone he worked with. you can withdraw without penalties. own PC Kelda Griffiths to this year’s national Unfortunately, 2019 also saw another rise Group Insurance Scheme - can you Police Bravery Awards. The bravery awards in the number of assaults on police officers and afford not to be in it? 12 ceremony is one of the real highlights of the there seemed to be an increase in vehicles policing year, giving us the opportunity to pay being used as a weapon against officers with Prince of Wales pays tribute to tribute to colleagues who put their lives on the several receiving serious injuries in incidents You can repay loans direct from your payroll. fallen officers 15 line to protect the public. which could so easily have resulted in further Why not visit our loan calculator to see how Could policing come under the Welsh Kelda fought off a frenzied attack despite fatalities. Government? 15 already having her arm in plaster from a Thankfully, we are now hearing noises much your repayments would be? previous assault and, despite her clear bravery, about even tougher sentences for those who said she was overwhelmed to be named as assault police officers and other emergency one of the seven regional bravery award service workers along with better legal Cover photo: City of London officers winners. For me, it was a real high point of protections for police drivers. dressed in replica 1919 uniforms what has in many ways been a tough year in Away from politics, 2019, the year that the policing. Police Federation of England and Wales for the Federation’s centenary I also, for the first time, attended the celebrated its centenary, also proved to be celebrations. See Pages 6 to 9. National Police Memorial Day, accompanied by memorable for a couple of the wrong reasons. the families of two fallen officers from Gwent. In March two cyber-attacks affected It was a very emotional day, serving to remind databases and servers at the Federation’s me how important these events are to the Leatherhead headquarters, causing massive families left behind when a police officer dies disruption to Federation branches across FORUM on duty. You can read more about the England and Wales. is published by memorial service on Page 15. As a direct result, the Federation’s annual Gwent Police Federation But, before I touch on some of the difficult national conference, which gives delegates Federation Office times this year, I just wanted to mention a few nationwide the opportunity to hear first-hand 9 The Highway other positive developments this year; firstly, from politicians, police leaders, other New Inn our 2.5 per cent pay rise. stakeholders and, perhaps most importantly, Pontypool For the first time in three years, the fellow officers, was cancelled. Personally, I was Visit www.no1copperpot.com NP4 0PW Government honoured the recommendations really disappointed that this decision was Tel: 01495 764349 of the Police Remuneration Review Board taken and I think this is why, at least in part, a (PRRB). We may not have got the increase the Federation centenary event in London on 21 Chair: Maria Henry Federation sought – it’s submission to PRRB November had a mini-conference feel about it Email [email protected] called for a three-year pay deal with a five per rather than a genuine celebration of what the cent uplift each year – but I do think it’s Federation has achieved in the last 100 years. Secretary: Nicky Ryan significant that the Government respected the Finally, I would just like to end by thanking Email [email protected] PRRB recommendation. Don’t get me wrong members for their continued commitment to Produced by XPR (UK) Ltd – and our pay and morale survey results (see serving the people of Gwent. With Christmas www.xpruk.com Page 4) support this view – police officers, who approaching, I know there will be many of you have seen their pay cut in real terms in recent who won’t be able to spend as much time as years, deserved more but this is definitely a you would like with your families but I hope All loans and mortgages are subject to affordability and our lending criteria. step in the right direction. that you all have the chance to celebrate the We are also seeing pledges to re-invest in festive season with your loved ones. I wish you Your savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000. You can hold a maximum of £40,000 with us across all saving accounts. policing which, of course, we also welcome. all a merry Christmas and a happy new year. And we have seen more tangible evidence Stay safe. Number One Police Credit Union Limited trading as No1 CopperPot Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 213301. For details visit http://www.fca.org.uk. FORUM Winter 2019 3 Financial worries affecting almost half our officers lmost half the Gwent officers who Federation, “But I am not really surprised. the job on their health and wellbeing (94 per responded to a national Police Officer pay has fallen in real terms during cent), their morale (87 per cent), the impact AFederation survey on pay and morale the years of austerity and cuts to police of the job on their family/personal life and said they worried about the state of their budgets. how the police as a whole are treated (both personal finances either daily or almost “Police officers joinPAY the police AND service toREMUNERATION 81 per cent).