UpbeatFederation voice in Leicestershire SEPTEMBER 2017 Downing Street reception for brave officers See Pages 6 and 7 www.leicestershirepolfed.co.uk In this issue Chairman’s foreword 2 Force acts on Federation pressure So much for a on spit guards 3 Dramatic officer assault footage sparks huge reaction in the media 3 quiet summer… MPs back bill to Protect The Protectors 4 Force releases latest assault figures 4 Assaults increase 4 By Tiff Lynch pressures the Force is under and to highlight Chairman of the Police Federation’s national Protect The Increasing our presence within Force 5 Leicestershire Protectors campaign which aims to tackle Supporting those who support you 5 Police Federation the growing problem of assaults on police Brave officers honoured at awards officers and other emergency service ceremony 6 here was a workers. Pay and morale survey “uncomfortable time not so Sadly, only five of the MPs have so far reading” 8 Tlong ago replied and one of those cannot manage to Remembering fallen officers 8 when there meet me until next year. So I would just like to thank Edward Argar, Andrew Bridgen, Liz Austin is remembered at COPS service 9 seemed to be a general slowing Kendall and Keith Vaz for agreeing to meet Force cyclists join Unity Tour to support down over the me in the not so distant future. charity 11 summer months. I just don’t understand why the other Officer numbers fall 13 But, this year there appears to have been MPs are not interested in finding out more Tiff’s inspiring journey 13 no such let-up. And, in fact, we saw a real about the reality of policing the communities The Gurney Fund: supporting officers’ flurry of activity during July in particular. they serve. But I will certainly be writing to families 14 Workforce statistics were published, them again to see if I can arrange to meet Support on hand through Police unsurprisingly showing officer numbers are them to discuss my concerns, and those of Dependants’ Trust 17 still falling, and these were closely followed the police officers I represent. The first duty by crime figures which showed an increase of Government is to protect its citizens so Special award for a special Special! 17 in crime. Apparently, we are told, there is no surely MPs should have a duty to at least try New stress plan echoes assaults initiative 18 link between a decrease in feet on the beat to understand how the police officers they Professionalising the Federation 18 and increased criminality; I am unconvinced. entrust to uphold the law of the land are Conduct and performance update 19 We all know community policing has been being affected by the cuts and how, in turn, Menopause matters: Keeley spreads hit by a Government cuts programme that that is affecting our communities? the word 21 has seen our numbers severely depleted and, In another blow to the at times fraught relationship between the police service and Police pensions on divorce or dissolution 23 as the Federation has always argued, effective community policing is the bedrock the Government, just days before MPs Poem praises officers 23 of the police service. started their seven-week summer recess, we Retiring officers 26 We all know demand for our services has learned that an announcement on our “Inheritance from beyond the grave” 27 shown no corresponding decrease, in fact, annual pay deal would not be made until this the opposite is true. Not only are we trying month. to respond to the traditional crimes – We had expected to hear if we were to Cover photo: Our brave officers outside 10 burglaries, motoring offences, theft, get an uplift in pay at the start of July. Any Downing Street. See Pages 6 and 7. robberies and so on – but we are also upping increase in pay usually comes into effect on 1 Photo courtesy of Anderson Photography. our game to tackle new and emerging September. crimes, such as human trafficking, an However, despite the fact that the Police Federation and the Superintendents’ Upbeat is published by Leicestershire explosion in cyber-crime and the ever- increasing threat of terrorism. Association had met an earlier than usual Police Federation Meanwhile, we are picking up the slack deadline for their joint submission to the Federation Office, Suite B, for other organisations hit by cuts. We are Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), a Grange Business Park, Enderby Road, called upon to cover gaps in mental health decision was delayed. Whetstone, Leicestershire LE8 6EP. support provision, for example. Quite simply, After the election, some senior members Telephone: 0116 275 9930 we are the service of first and last resort, and of the Cabinet argued the current one per E-mail: [email protected] the service that never says no. cent cap on increases to public sector pay Editor: Tiff Lynch However, we are also the service that should be lifted. However, the sticking point, Editorial Consultant: Julie Butterworth runs towards danger while others run away. and it is a big one, was the Chancellor of the After the horrific terrorist attacks in both Exchequer who was quoted as saying that he Every care is taken to ensure that advertisements are London and Manchester earlier this year, felt public sector workers were over paid. only accepted from bona fide advertisers. The Police MPs praised the response of police officers Perhaps he was given the summer to Federation cannot accept liability incurred by any person as a result of a default on the part of an advertiser. The and other emergency service workers and reflect on his figures? We can only hope so. views expressed within this magazine are not necessarily the need for investment in policing became a l We have recently taken steps to improve the views of the Leicestershire Joint Branch Board. key issue in the run-up to the General our presence on social media so that we Election. can communicate better with not just Contact the Federation However, once again, it appears the members but also the public and other words of some MPs were hollow. After the interested parties. Please take the time E-mail: [email protected] General Election, I wrote to all our newly to visit our Facebook page and let us Tel: 0116 275 9930 elected Leicestershire MPs to explain the know your views by rating our page. Fax: 0116 275 9949 www.leicestershirepolfed.co.uk 2 www.leicestershirepolfed.co.uk Force acts on Federation pressure on spit guards eicestershire Police officers are set to be “For far too long, police officers going issued with spit and bite guards about their duties, serving and protecting Lfollowing a successful campaign by the their communities have been subject to Force’s Police Federation branch. these hideous attacks and I am afraid The Federation had put pressure on the enough is enough; we must protect those did 96 per cent say they would like to see spit Force to introduce the protective equipment who protect the public. guards introduced but 97 per cent also said after its members voted overwhelming in “I am pleased that the Force has listened they would be confident using them. support of the move. to us and to our members.” As the Police Federation of England and “We carried out our own survey of Tiff has worked closely with chief officers Wales tackles the issue of the growing members earlier this year and 96 per cent of to ensure that the design of spit guard number of assaults on police officers with its the officers who responded said they wanted introduced in the county protects officers nationwide Protect The Protectors campaign, the Force to issue them with these guards to but, unlike those used in some other forces, an initiative supported by Leicestershire help protect them from being spat at or does not cover the person’s head completely. Police Federation, some forces have already bitten,” says Tiff Lynch, chairman of Chief Constable Simon Cole announced introduced spit guards for their officers. Leicestershire Police Federation. on 15 August that the Force would be But spit guards is only part of the story, “The Federation is committed to the issuing fine mesh guards which officers can says Tiff. welfare of officers and, as such, once we had fit over the mouth of anyone who attempts “While we welcome the Force’s decision found out our members’ views we arranged to spit at them or bite them. to issue the spit guards, this is not the end of to speak to chief officers to put pressure on A total of 667 officers took part in the our campaign. We will be working with the them to act on the survey findings. voluntary Federation questionnaire and the Force to ensure that all assaults on police “We are aware that some people are overall results painted a clear picture of how officers and police staff are properly recorded opposed to officers using spit guards but for they feel towards the issue of being spat at and will be pushing for offenders to be me it’s really quite simple – if you don’t want while doing their jobs. prosecuted; only then can we assess the true to wear a spit or bite guard do not attempt Over a quarter (27 per cent) said they extent of the problem and ensure that we to spit at or bite a police officer. had been spat at while on duty and not only tackle this issue effectively,” she explains. Dramatic officer assault footage sparks huge reaction in the media Leicestershire Police Federation’s decision to reaction on the Federation’s Facebook and are being properly reported and recorded.