‘ 6 6 1 ‘ E U S S TalkI THE MATHGAZINE OF THE RMINISTORY OF DEUFENCE POGLICE H DECEMBER 2018 Taking the lead . Andy Adams confirmed as Chief INSIDE T Force rises to security challenge of US President’s visit T T Delivering for Defence – Senior Leaders debate the issues T CONTENTS ISSUE 166 DECEMBER 2018 New Chief New Chief Andy Adams . sets out vision for Force 1 Andy Adams US President’s visit 4 4 Senior Leaders’ Conference 2018 9 Spotlight on HMNB Devonport 13 13 RIAT 2018 16 . sets out vision MDP supports DE &S Safety Day at Kineton 20 16 for Force MDP in the Social Media 22 T FOLLOWING an external Julie Taylor , Director General Leaders’ Conference and asked him Probationer Training Programmes 2018 26 Head Office and Commissioning how he felt to have been entrusted competition, the Secretary Services said: “I am delighted that with the task of leading the Force: of State has approved the Andy has been appointed as Chief I am absolutely thrilled 26 appointment of Andy Adams Constable for the MDP. Having to h‘ave been appointed as as MDP’s Chief Constable. worked for the Force since 2015 he the Chief Constable of the has a comprehensive and effective ‘ Andy, who had been in charge MDP and look forward to understanding of the emerging on a temporary basis since July last leading the Force and contin- threats facing our Armed Forces year, following the untimely death uing our important work, We welcome articles and photos of interest to readers, and the country. He’ll continue to of previous Chief Alf Hitchcock, protecting our people at but reserve the right to shorten/edit contributions. take the Force from strength-to- joined the Force in September 2015 home and overseas. I’d also ‘ Staff contributing articles should ensure they are strength and I look forward to as its Deputy Chief Constable, like to take the opportunity suitable for open publication. continuing to work with him closely.” having previously served in that role to thank everyone who has If you would like to discuss your contribution, please with Hertfordshire Constabulary. Sir Brian Burridge , Chair of supported me whilst in the contact the Editor. the MOD Police Committee, said: Since joining the Force, he has role of Temporary Chief Talk “Andy brings an extensive wealth overseen its ongoing programme Constable, he said. of experience from across the THROUGH Follow MDP on Facebook: of organisational reform and ’ spectrum of policing, which will be @ministryofdefencepolice development, including the imple- TT: What vision have you got for Editor: vital in transforming the MDP, in the Force as we move forward? Follow MDP on Twitter: mentation of the new MDP Norman Hicks order to meet tomorrow’s complex @MODPolice Operational Policing Model and CC: Our purpose is clear; we Corporate Communications the MDP’s deployments under security challenges.” deliver unique specialist policing to Room 122/1070 the high profile armed national caught up with the protect the nation’s defences and MDP Wethersfield TalkThrough response to the threat from new Chief shortly after he had national infrastructure. We perform Braintree, Essex CM7 4AZ PROTECTING | REASSURING | ACHIEVING terrorism – Operation Temperer. presided over the 2018 Senior a policing role for Defence; which tel: 01371 854053/854960 Delivering Unique Specialist Policing . to protect the e-mail: [email protected] nation’s defences and national infrastructure 1 CONTINUED . NEW CHIEF ANDY ADAM S . SETS OUT VISION FOR FORCE people have to say and That will be advertised responding appropriately. internally and externally It’s quite reassuring that so that we can attract the these channels very rarely widest possible pool of provide any surprises – we candidates and have the pretty much know what opportunity to choose a needs doing. Sometimes, leader willing to support the however, the real challenge changes we need to make. is getting it done. Finally, TT: Are you pleased to and equally important, is have got what has been a gaining feedback from the testing first year in charge Staff Survey. I was really under your belt? pleased to see that our response rate has increased this year, against last, and I’m CC: It has been a testing year for everyone and on a looking forward to seeing the views of colleagues. personal level I am immensely grateful for the support from MOD colleagues and the wider policing family, but most of TT: What changes will there be in your senior officer all I am proud of the individual endeavours of my team, following your appointment? colleagues in the Force. CC: We are currently in the process of selecting a new At my time of life, losing friends and family members, carries a high level of responsibility and requires that we process. However, we must also increase our training DCC and ACC, both critical posts for us moving forward. is something that happens more frequently, but the loss meet equally high professional standards. capability. We have plans to do these things, but we’ll need We need high calibre people to lead us and a chief officer of a serving Chief Constable was a unique experience in to be pragmatic as some of these things are historic issues What I want to achieve during my tenure is located team with complementary skills; choosing the right people policing. Like many I had come to regard Alf as a friend and we’re not going to resolve them overnight. and that made it even harder to deal with. It being closely around our profession and our capability – I want to be is vital to our future. clear about what policing is in the MOD. My vision is to followed by the licensing issue made life interesting for TT: What key things came out of the Senior Leaders’ build our specialist capabilities for the benefit of Defence Replacing quality people like Paul McLaughlin and a while. Conference? Peter Terry will be a challenge but I am pleased with the and as a national asset; develop a workforce that is fit for Fortunately, those that know me well, will be aware CC: I thought the Senior Leaders’ Conference was good expressions of interest so far and I look forward to those purpose; make sure our business resource supports the that I am resilient, which is helped by having great support this year and it was made so by the contribution of the materialising into applications. front line and exploit technology as and where we can. in my chief officer team, taking a large dose of exercise attendees. Those present have a vital role in leading and We will also be looking for a new Chief Superintendent during the week and having a super family always Above all I want the MDP to be a police force that is why participants were involved in such a wide range with the announcement of Mick O’Byrne’s retirement. helps too. recognised for its contribution to Defence and wider of discussions on current challenges and future direction. policing and as an organisation we can be proud of. One of the key discussions was on empowerment. TT: What do you see as the most pressing issues? I’m keen to evolve the role of middle management so that decision making is taken at the right level by the right CC: We spent a considerable amount of time last year people, without the need for reference upwards. Too often dealing with the issues falling out of our firearms training we have exercised command and control decision making – licence suspension. Once again, I would like to record my there should be a confidence in placing responsibility thanks to all staff involved for their tireless commitment to further down the management chain and, equally, we our response. Since the licence has been reinstated our should support managers to make decisions. Not challenge has been to move from crisis management back everything needs to be decided by a chief officer. to a reasonably steady state. I use the term ‘reasonably’ because we still have some TT: How do you make sure that you are accessible and significant challenges and they cannot be resolved without listen to the workforce? energy. Top of my list is resourcing – the introduction of CC: It’s easy for people to gain access to us in Wethersfield level 5.7 on the mandatory fitness test has created a but that is only a small part of our Force footprint. We have cohort who are unable to meet that standard, and this a programme for station visits by chief officers and we set has compounded an existing under-bearing and over an expectation that every station will be visited at least reliance on overtime. once a year. This provides an important face-to-face We need to recruit enough officers and staff to meet opportunity. The Police Committee also supports this our requirements, train the numbers we require and then approach through its own visits programme. retain good people. Fortunately, there is no shortage of I actively encourage responses to the Chief Officers’ people who want to join us, and the HR and DBS teams are Blog, with every entry being provided with a response, doing some great work in streamlining the recruitment and an important aspect of the SLC is listening to what 2 3 MDP and police partners join forces for US President’s visit T BETWEEN JUL Y12th and plans for each element of the operation When finalised the planning team Report: were discussed and evaluated. dovetailed with that of our Home Office Chief Insp Phil Lucy 15th this year Donald Trump , counterparts and the tactical plans were The detailed complexity of the opera- aligned with the overall Op Manifold the President of the United tion soon became apparent, in particular strategy and plans.