Category: News

LGBT Network Annual Report The National LGBT Police Network have recently published their Annual Report, linked below. It includes input from the Association’s LGBT representative on the National Executive Committee, Clinton Blackburn, who also represents the LGBT Network’s SE region. LGBT Police Network Annual Report 2017

The body that represents senior operational police leaders says the public must now be asked what it wants and expects from the police service. Policing then needs enough funding to properly carry out this role, said Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales. Chief Superintendent Thomas also highlighted that more police officers are needed overall if neighbourhood policing is to be maintained at even current levels, as the increase in armed officers relies on existing police officers being trained to fulfil another role when needed. He said:  “The tragic events of the last few weeks have clearly reminded us all how important policing is to this country and the vital role it plays in protecting our people and communities. “The police service is not unlike the NHS in...

The Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales is funding two places on on this year’s Stonewall Young Leaders Programme.  Applications are open to anyone aged 18-25 working in policing in England and Wales including BTP, CNC and the Isle of Man Police.  The programme is residential over two days in London.  Association  LBGT lead Det Supt Clinton Blackburn said:  “People perform better when they are able to be themselves at work. “Stonewall has designed the Young Leaders Programme to explore what it means to be yourself in the workplace as LBGT and also to inspire participants to think about their impact on others as leaders and role models. “Supporting two places on the programme underlines the Association’s commitment to valuing...

Police officers who make genuine mistakes should not be lumped in with the bad apples when it comes to discipline, the Police Federation of England and Wales’ annual conference has heard. Presenting at the Conference session ‘Moving from discipline to performance’, Victor Marshall, PSAEW professional standards lead, said: “Police officers do an incredibly difficult and important job under very difficult circumstances. We won’t always get it right. That doesn’t make us bad people.”  Mr Marshall, who has also worked with the Home Office on discipline reforms, said it was “offensive” to compare officers who “try their best but don’t get it right” with the “sexual predators, corrupt and dishonest officers” that make up a “very small minority” at the other end...

A major national campaign has launched to raise funds to build a new UK Police Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Staffordshire. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “Every day, our police officers and staff go out to work not knowing what they might face, but do so with the utmost professionalism and bravery. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.   “That bravery was plain for everyone to see in the phenomenal response of the police to the shocking events in Westminster back in March, as a result of which PC Keith Palmer tragically lost his life.   “It is entirely fitting that those officers and staff who give their lives in the line of duty...

The three policing staff associations have written an open letter to all political parties outlining what the service needs from the next government. The Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, the Police Federation, and the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association have joined forces to put forward the fundamental requirements for an effective police service.  These include adequate funding, effective support from other agencies, proper protection for officers, and for a public debate about the role of policing. The letter, signed by the respective heads of the three organisations, Gavin Thomas, Steve White and Mark Polin, says:  “We collectively speak for the 125,000 police officers in England and Wales charged with keeping the public safe.    “This general election is...

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, has published his annual assessment of policing in England and Wales. His assessment finds police forces are having to “pick up the slack” as cuts in other public services increase pressure on them. He also draws attention to “material pressures” on police forces which are put the service under strain. Association President Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas responded to the report, saying:   “The PSAEW welcomes this report which has highlighted two key themes.   “Firstly, the vast majority of frontline officers and staff continue to do a very difficult job in demanding and extremely difficult circumstances.  The report states that frontline officers feel this strain particularly acutely; and that their jobs...

Changes to policing collaboration, complaints and discipline, and pre-charge bail are among new provisions coming into force on 3.4.2017 under the Policing and Crime Act 2017. Association President Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas said: “The Policing and Crime Act 2017 is a key piece of legislation for the Government in respect of Policing and Criminal Justice reform. “It has been through an extensive programme of consultation, followed by scrutiny in both Houses of Parliament.  “Throughout the consultation period, my Association worked closely with the Home Office on those aspects of the legislation that will have a direct impact on our members, the senior operational leaders in policing across England and Wales.  “We are particularly interested in how the changes being made...

I am deeply saddened that a police officer has died following the incident in Westminster today.  On behalf of my Association, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the officer’s family and loved ones.   Our thoughts are also with the officer’s colleagues at this incredibly difficult time. Policing is a family, and everyone in our family will feel this loss deeply.  I also extend my immense gratitude to all the officers who have been involved in today’s incident, and to those who are now protecting the public across London and the UK. Your bravery and dedication are appreciated by all tonight and I am proud to call you my colleagues. Our thoughts are also with the families...

The majority of police forces do a good job in keeping members of the public safe, with two thirds of forces being graded as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the latest HMIC PEEL Effectiveness inspection report.  The wide-ranging inspection found most forces provide a largely good service in keeping people safe and preventing crime, and many forces are praised for improving the service they provide for vulnerable people.  But the report, released on 2.3.2017, found the service is not as well equipped to prevent crime as it has been in the past. Three main areas of concern were highlighted by the inspection: some forces’ attempts to manage or suppress demand are putting people at risk; in some cases, police officers are not carrying out...