REPS SPOTLIGHT CHAMPIONING
COLLEAGUES, DRIVING CHANGE
Championing welfare, fairness and transparency, PC Benjamin Hayes is part of a new wave of Federation reps driving meaningful change
Police Constable Benjamin Hayes, based with Cleveland Police, represents a new generation of Federation representatives focused on practical support, transparency and meaningful change. Serving since 2019, Benjamin has spent most of his career in Hartlepool, working within the Neighbourhood Policing Team while also developing as a prospective supervisor. As he explains: “I have worked for Cleveland Police since 2019. I have done the majority of my service in Hartlepool. I am a PC on the Neighbourhood Policing Team, where I have been doing a lot of acting recently as I am looking at progressing as a supervisor within the organisation.” His route into policing was shaped during his university years. He recalls: “I was first attracted to policing in my final year at university in 2018. I lived in Middlesbrough at the time (away from home) and during my degree in sociology and criminology, policing would often be linked. I was drawn into the positives and negatives of policing and wanted to apply to the police with my own twist (if that makes sense). I wanted to work for Cleveland as I am aware it is a deprived area and has high rates of drug use and poverty, so I knew it would be a good place to work.” This grounding in both theory and lived experience has clearly influenced his approach to the role. Benjamin’s decision
to become a Federation representative was driven by both inspiration and frustration. He explains: “I was motivated to become a Fed rep a few years ago for two reasons. Firstly, my
22 | POLICE | APRIL | 2026
previous supervisor had been a rep and was always a fountain of knowledge when it came to how officers should be treated. Secondly, I was frustrated by seeing
“Often, rightly or wrongly, people
officers were suffering as a result. In short, I wanted to help the people I work with. There was no particular moment; I had a positive call with our chair prior to applying.” In practical terms,
of higher rank would ask officers to go outside the regulations and I was aware that many officers were suffering as a result.”
officers being given incorrect advice. Often, rightly or wrongly, people of higher rank would ask officers to go outside the regulations and I was aware that many
Benjamin describes the role plainly: “Day to day a work-based rep does as much as they can. We still carry our normal workload, but daily or
weekly we offer support to full-time reps, whether it’s giving advice over the phone or email, or supporting officers in conduct cases, grievances, etc.” This
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