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Chris Fairhurst 2nd Floor, Commercial Wharf, 6 Commercial Street, Manchester M15 4PZ Partner www.mcalisterfamilylaw.co.uk 0333 202 6433 MFL A4 Police Divorce Advert.indd 1 15/11/2018 15:07 Welcome What’s inside Welcome to the December 2019/ January 2020 edition of federation - the magazine for members of West 04 Chair’s introduction Midlands Police Federation. We are always on the look-out for 05 Pensions update 17 good news stories so please get in 05 Cash boost for Welfare Support touch if you have something to share with colleagues. It does not have to Programme relate to your policing role – though 05 Our Christmas opening times we are definitely interested in hearing about what’s going on around the 05 Look out for your Federation Force. Do you have an interesting diary hobby or perhaps you are involved in sport locally, as a player, a manager, a 06 Half of officers regularly coach? worrying about their finances Just get in touch and let us know. We would also be interested to hear 09 Call for safety training to what you would like to see featured in include more hands-on practice your magazine. 10 Study period extended for Force’s trainee detectives Police Federation centenary 10 ‘I want to make being a celebration detective as accessible as possible’ 21 Within three years of Published by: retirement? XPR (UK) Ltd 11 What is the Detective Editor: Academy? 22 I want to do the best I can for John Williams, deputy chair our members Deputy editor: Chris Cooper, 23 New conduct regs come into Member services team leader 12 effect in February [email protected] Design and sub-editing: More than 300 sign up for 23 Supporting those who need it XPR (UK) Ltd marathon events to show 24 ‘I am proud to be a Fed rep’ Contact us: support for ACC Guardians House, 25 ‘There is more to the role than 2111 Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, helping officers in trouble’ B26 3EA Telephone: 26 Review of the year 2019 0121 752 4900 31 Stay in touch with West Email: [email protected] Midlands Police Benevolent www.polfed.org/westmids Fund Federation is printed by XPR (UK) Ltd on behalf 31 Why do more people get of West Midlands Police Federation. 13 Supporters’ stories divorced in January? The articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the Branch Council. The editor 15 Band on the run? 33 Supporting you reserves the right to reject or edit any material submitted. Every care is taken to ensure that 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 Advertisers advertiser. All material is copyright and may not be 02 McAlister, family law 32 Warren & Co, independent reproduced without the express permission of the editor. 08 George Burows, financial health check mortgage advice 14 Care on Demand, Group Insurance 32 Irwin Mitchell, family law Scheme 34 Slater & Gordon, family law 16 George Burows, RAC cover 35 NARPO, member services 21 Gorvins, police and family law 35 First Call Financial, independent 30 Police Insure, motor, home and mortgage advice motorcycle insurance 36 Slater & Gordon, police law www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2019/January 2020 03 Chair’s introduction Looking back but thinking ahead a number of incidents where our officers In the meantime we, as a Federation, have suffered life-changing injuries when want to remind members that help and they have been struck by vehicles by support is available if you should find mindless criminals who show no regard or yourself in financial difficulty and, in the respect for the police. We hope the officers February/March edition of this magazine we injured in these incidents continue on their will include a feature on some of the road to recovery but we also need to see organisations that can provide you with those who are involved in these attacks face tailored advice. the full weight of the law. Unfortunately, Much is said about the need to boost while tougher sentences are now available officer wellbeing – and I am really pleased to to the courts as a result of the Federation’s see that officers are now feeling confident Protect the Protectors campaign, there is about talking about their mental health – evidence that these are not always being but healthy finances are also necessary to handed down. everyone’s wellbeing so we want to ensure As a Federation, we will be pushing not that everyone knows help is at hand. just for the courts to suitably punish those Finally, I would just like to say how proud who attack the police but also for even I am to have been elected as chair of the tougher sentences to be introduced. We will West Midlands Police Federation. You can also be working with the Force to ensure read more about my policing and Federation that officers are given the very best safety background in the profile piece on Page 22. By Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police training so they can protect themselves and However, I would just like to say here Federation this will just be one strand of work for 2020. that, while I know it’s going to involve a Another focus for us next year will be the period of adjustment moving from my am reliably informed that it’s something Force recruitment programme and, coupled detective role to a full-time Federation post, of a tradition that the chair, in writing with that, measures to boost officer I am confident that I can make a difference Itheir introduction to the last Federation retention. for members. magazine of the year, looks back on the Closely linked to that will, of course, be I will always represent you to the very events of the last 12 months, touching on the issue of pay. The annual Police best of my ability, putting your views and both high and low points. Federation pay and morale survey revealed perspectives forward to senior officers and Of course, being relatively new to this some shocking figures in relation to officers’ managers, negotiating on your behalf and role - at the time of writing I had been chair finances (see Page 6 for more details of our seeking to influence decision-makers. I am for just a few weeks - this is perhaps a little respondents’ views). looking forward to the challenges ahead. more difficult than it would be for someone Earlier this year, for the first time in three Finally, I appreciate many of you will be who had been at the helm throughout the years, the Government accepted the working over the festive period. However, I year. recommendations of the Police hope that, despite your shifts, you are able But, that said, I have still welcomed the Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and to spend some time with your loved ones. All opportunity to reflect on all that has awarded us a 2.5 per cent pay rise. This was that remains is for me to wish you a very happened during 2019 and make plans for perhaps one of the highlights of the year merry Christmas and best wishes for a safe what will be our focus in 2020. but, while welcome, the pay rise was not and healthy 2020. One incident really stands out in my enough. In real terms, we have seen our pay l See Page 22 for a profile of the new memory. The death of PC Andrew Harper of cut in recent years and we need to see Federation chair. Thames Valley Police has to be one of the efforts to address that. most shocking tragic events of the year. This young officer, just weeks after his marriage, died serving his community. He left home to As a Federation, we will be pushing not just go to work and never returned after his shift. “ The public outpouring of grief is testimony for the courts to suitably punish those who to the high regard the vast majority of people have for the police and his death was attack the police but also for even tougher a poignant reminder of the risks officers take “ each and every day as they go about their sentences to be introduced. duties. Here in the West Midlands, we have seen 04 federation December 2019/January 2020 www.polfed.org/westmids Pensions Cash boost for Welfare update Support Programme The Welfare Support “It is essential that we, as a Federation, The Police Federation will continue to Programme (WSP) which do all we can to ensure that we help do the best it can for all members in offers a round-the-clock promote officer wellbeing and also give relation to the ongoing legal process helpline to officers and access to support when it is needed.” their families who are Currently, 24 West Midlands Police regarding the 2015 pension scheme, going through life-changing circumstances officers are being supported by the national chair John Apter has has been given a cash boost.