The Annual Report and Accounts of the Police Superintendents’ Association for 2017/18 are now available. President Gavin Thomas said: “Many of the issues policing has experienced over the 12 months this report covers are a continuation of the previous several years. “The service has been the subject of high profile reporting and scrutiny – much of it uncomfortable – on both current activity and issues from its history going back a generation or more. Continuing pressure on budgets means forces are still having to make incredibly difficult decisions in every area of service. The threat from terrorism remains real and present. “Policing keeps rising to these challenges: but in doing so is really starting to show the strain....
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E-letter from America…part 4
The Association’s NEC representative for gender, Det Supt Sam De Reya, is swapping Devon and Cornwall Police for the USA as she spends the next 10 weeks at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She’ll be blogging her experiences for us here. Getting into the pace My day involves a 0600 wake up, cup of tea, dressed and out for breakfast, a long walk across the campus to class for 0730, two two-hour classes to 1130 and then another two two-hour classes and lectures in the afternoon. We finish at 1700 for dinner and then homework or fitness depending on whether you had it as a class that day. International student welcome The international welcome was a...
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Superintendents: Government is devaluing policing and its officers
Commenting on the 2018/19 pay award for police officers announced by the government today, PSA National Secretary Dan Murphy said: ‘A look beyond the headlines of both this year’s and last year’s pay announcements makes it clear that the government is not treating officers fairly. What is also clear is that the government does not understand the importance the police service places on the recommendations of the independent review body for pay. Police officers do not have the same industrial rights as other professions, so they trust and expect that their pay will be set in a fair way. The independent review body takes into account affordability to the public purse and seeks all stakeholders positions when making its recommendations. As the...
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E-letter from America…part 3
The Association’s NEC representative for gender, Det Supt Sam De Reya, is swapping Devon and Cornwall Police for the USA as she spends the next 10 weeks at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She’ll be blogging her experiences for us here. Day one, week one:FBINA Session 273 It is my first day of lessons with classes starting at 0730 and finishing at 1700 or later Monday to Friday. I take five academic courses and a fitness module as part of the course. First class – Leading At-Risk Employees This class explores staff members suffering from alcohol/drug abuse, PTSD, stress/anxiety, depression and suicide within the law enforcement community. Most importantly, how do leaders and organisations support...
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E-letter from America…part 2
The Association’s NEC representative for gender, Det Supt Sam De Reya, is swapping Devon and Cornwall Police for the USA as she spends the next 10 weeks at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She’ll be blogging her experiences for us here. Touchdown Arrival at Washington Dulles is pretty great, especially as I go through the diplomatic queue at customs (that’s a first), overtaking the seemingly miles of people waiting to get into the US. Quantico is about 45 minutes away from the airport and 30 miles south of Washington DC, situated on a United States Marine Corp (USMC) property. It is completely surrounded by established trees and hidden about three miles into the camp. Security is...
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Superintendent wins international recognition
A member of the Association’s National Executive Committee has won a prestigious place at an international conference of women officers in recognition of her outstanding work. Leicestershire Police Chief Superintendent Kerry Smith, Chair of the Association’s B District, will receive the 2018 International Scholarship Recognition Award from the International Association of Women Police (IAWP). The award will be given to her at the IAWP’s annual training conference in Calgary, Canada. The award aims to increase international understanding and awareness of women in police roles and recognise their achievements. Kerry was recognised from a worldwide list of applicants and will share her experiences of law enforcement with female officers from across the globe at the conference. Currently leading a three-force...
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President responds to HMCIC State of Policing report
Dedication and a sense of duty by hard-working officers is masking a failure by senior leaders to adequately assess current and future demand, according to the annual State of Policing report published by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Of Constabulary. Responding to the report by Sir Tom Winsor, Association President Gavin Thomas said: “I am pleased to see this report acknowledge that the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service is improving, particularly given the backdrop of austerity and rising, more complex crime. “Sir Tom rightly gives credit for this to those who work in the service. But he also highlights the reliance on frontline officers and staff to just ‘get the job done’. “This commendable work ethic is underpinning policing through one of the most difficult...
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Vice President’s Charity Challenge 2018 – Walk The Wall!
Association Vice President Paul Griffiths will be walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall non-stop to raise money for Police Treatment Centres (PTC) in his 2018 charity challenge. He plans to hike the entire 84 miles of the historic wall in less than 36 hours. Paul’s previous challenges for police charities included last year’s HQ rides, where he rode to every police HQ in England and Wales, covering 2,100 miles and raising £4200. He has also completed the UK Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours and walked the entire 870 miles of the Welsh coastline. Paul said: “Following last year’s HQ rides was always going to be a feat in itself, but I am really looking forward to this one. “I have had superb support in all of my challenges,...
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Home Secretary’s speech to Police Federation conference
Association President Gavin Thomas has welcomed the Home Secretary’s vision of a new relationship with the police service. Sajid Javid MP told the Police Federation of England and Wales annual conference in Birmingham that in every role he has had in government, he has seen and understood the importance of the police. He promised to prioritise police funding in the next Spending Review, and said the service should have the resources it needs. He also announced the Home Office would be setting up a formal review of frontline policing to hear from officers about what works, their experiences and what the future of policing needs. Chief Superintendent Thomas said: “The emphasis on both the Home Secretary and the Home...
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Association pledges support to gender equality
HeForShe is a UN campaign aimed at inspiring men and boys to bring bring about gender equality. The Police Superintendents’ Association has signed up to support this campaign. HeForShe is inviting people around the world to stand together for gender equality. More than a fight for female rights or feminism, gender equality affects everyone in some way, whether over parental leave, mental health issues, professional advancement and glass ceilings, personal health or confidence issues. The Association signed a commitment at the Senior Women in Policing Conference in November 2017 to take action to create, and encourage others to be involved in creating, a gender-equal world. The pledge included continuing to champion the value of difference and inclusivity in the police service,...
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