KEYNOTES


POLITICS FREE POLICING


National Chair calls upon the Government for clear and obvious support for policing missing in recent years


National Chair Steve Hartshorn’s keynote address was a wide-ranging appraisal of policing that acknowledged errors of the past, recalled heroic acts of many Federation members over the past year and called out the Home Secretary where support was absent and acknowledged and thanked the Government where it was due. “In what has undoubtedly been a hard


year for police up and down the land, with the actions of a tiny minority overshadowing the great work done by the vast majority of officers in all forces, it is right to support and thank our members for the work they do day-in and day-out to protect the public. Facing tough news for PFEW is a responsibility of the Chair and Mr Hartshorn did not shy away from this. He stated: “Past organisational failings have come home to roost with the judgment of the employment tribunal in the pension discrimination claim. “I want to say again – I am sorry that as an organisation, in some of our past decision making, we let some members down. I’m reassured that the processes and practices now in place mean that will not happen again.” He looked to the past 12 months


acknowledging the work done, the work still to do and the missed opportunities. Starting with police pay, he outlined: “It’s pleasing the Police Remuneration Review Body listened to what we and others have been saying – and the pay uplift of 7 per cent this year is a welcome step in the right direction. “But according to the Social Market


Foundation, we are at least 17 per cent behind where we should be, so I trust this year is just the start of putting things right to ensure police pay is fair.” Mr Hartshorn addressed the Time Limits


campaign, especially relevant given recent developments and procedural changes to police officer dismissals. “Rather than listen to the Federation and its combined and acknowledged expertise


06 | POLICE | SPECIAL EDITION | 2023


in this area, the Home Secretary appears to question the legitimacy and decision- making ability of legally qualified chairs in police misconduct hearings. “Home Secretary, this does not help


restore public confidence, the confidence of police officers; nor ensure more timely, fair and impartial misconduct hearings,” he stressed. Importantly, Mr Hartshorn challenged the Home Secretary to impress upon all her colleagues in the Government for clear and obvious support for the police, something that is felt to have been absent in recent years. “This support can start with the allocation


of long-term funding settlements for chiefs, so they can plan more than one year ahead,


a fair or rational way to run a police misconduct system,” said Mr Hartshorn. Giving thanks where it’s due, Mr


Hartshorn thanked the Home Secretary for the legislative change which allowed special constables the opportunity to join PFEW. They now have access to the legal support and advice their full-time colleagues have. “This was the right thing


“Home Secretary, this does not help restore public confidence, the confidence of police officers; nor ensure more timely, fair and impartial misconduct hearings”


ensure the best long-term procurement deals and invest in appropriate technology and kit,” he said.


During his speech, Mr Hartshorn rightly impressed upon the Home Secretary that of course all firearms officers accept being held to account for their actions, part of which is the expectation to be subjected to a fair, independent, and transparent process. “The decisions they make in split seconds when faced with an immediate threat to life must be understood just as much as the decisions they’ll be making on their own in deciding whether to continue as a firearms officer. “It is unreasonable that despite the


case having passed stringent legal scrutiny establishing W80’s actions were lawful the Independent Office of Police Conduct had renewed its direction to the MPS to bring gross misconduct proceedings against W80. This is not


to do, and I know that many special constables are grateful for the opportunity to join PFEW and for us, locally and nationally, to support them,” he said. In closing, Steve posed


• Keep politics out of policing. • Fair pay and a truly independent pay machinery.


the simple asks PFEW has of the Home Secretary and the Government:


• Police officers to have access to the best possible protective equipment and kit.


• Open and transparent process of vetting and time limits on misconduct


• The removal of unnecessary bureaucracy that prevents officers from getting on


investigations.


• Long-term funding for policing so we can plan and make best use of


with the job.


• To know that the Home Secretary has our backs and appreciate what police


economies of scale.


officers do, understands the difficult, dangerous and demanding environment in which we work and supports us and speaks up for us - in words and, importantly, in action.


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