MEMBER SUPPORT
A SOLICITOR PANEL FIRMS BI-ANNUAL MEETING
IS NOW A REGULAR FIXTURE FOR THE CALENDAR
room to discuss and learn from each other. It is even more important at a time like this. Policing as we know is in a very difficult place at the moment, which has resulted in many new changes being considered and implemented quickly with short consultation periods, around Vetting and Conduct Regulations. All of this is on top of the increasing number of conduct issues that officers are facing. That’s why the meeting was so beneficial to be able to discuss how we can continue to best serve our Federated members at the time they need us the most”. The agenda for this first meeting focussed on Equality, Conduct, Civil, Post Incident Procedure and Vetting matters. Conversations were had too on the
On 13 December 2023 the Police Federation of England and Wales hosted its first panel firm solicitors meeting in six years and confirmed this will now be held every six months
In attendance for the inaugural meeting were representatives from Hunt & Coombs, HCR Solicitors, Straw & Pearce, Taylor Haldane Barlex, Goodall Barnett Jones, Precedence Law, Setfords, Waldrons, JNP Legal, DAC Beachcroft, Ralli Solicitors, Reynolds Dawson, Pattinson & Brewer, FBC Manby Bowdler, Slater & Gordon, Hempsons, Penningtons, Gorvins, Haighs Law, Blackfords, Wilford Smith and Phoenix Legal, all
and approaches presented over the course of legal proceedings.
PFEW Head of Civil Claims Craig Hewitt said: “Having consistency across the different forces of England and
costs of the legal work PFEW carries out, how best to achieve suitable financial recovery and ensure financial resources are not needlessly wasted. It was also an opportunity to bring to the fore again PFEW’s Terms of Business and remind panel firms to ensure they are appropriately aligned.
“That’s why the meeting was so beneficial to be able to discuss how we can continue
to best serve our Federated members at the time they need us the most.”
sitting alongside the Criminal and Civil Administrators as well as the Claims Advisors and in-house PFEW solicitors. These now regular meetings have been coordinated to ensure all panel firms used across the 43 Federation branches can learn from shared experiences, share best practice and ideas, and understand better the differences between forces, how each force responds to various methodologies
30 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
Wales is vital to the service we provide for our members when they turn to us for support. Different panels deal with similar claims in different ways, so it is hoped these meetings can bring consistency of approach for the types of claims we deal with where it was previously missing.” Kersten Peters, PFEW head of criminal claims, added: “We never have an opportunity to get everyone in the same
In more challenging times than experienced in recent memory, legal costs are the largest expenditure the Federation faces. Presenting a report at Annual Conference 2023, National Treasurer Simon Kempton outlined year to date the organisation has spent just over £11 million on legal costs, its largest expenditure. “Over the last seven or eight years, we have invested more money into legal costs, as more officers require more support from PFEW,” explained Mr Kempton.
The day was a great success, and plans are in place for the next one to be held in May 2024. Craig and Kersten wanted to again take the opportunity to thank the Claims Team for all their hard work and support over the years, without their commitment and strong work ethic we would not be able to process and manage the 10,000 active claims that we currently have.
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