MUTUAL AID MUTUAL RESPECT


The Police Federation of England and Wales is leading the way in improving guidance for mutual aid, so all officers get a fair deal


chiefs have to agree to act the same. The more consistent we can be, the stronger the case to toe the line.” Superintendent Damian Kitchen, head


of NPoCC’s Operations Unit, said: “Given the dynamic nature of policing and variety of challenges during deployments, there will always be things to learn – this is a ‘living document’ that can be improved through feedback. “We have added a second section to the agreement for international deployments, which will be presented to Chief Constables’ Council in December 2022. Lengthy deployments away from home significantly impact officers’ home lives and present challenges for home forces. “The work we have delivered with the


Officers deployed to provide mutual aid in the UK and overseas are closer to receiving fairer payments, no matter what force they are from – PFEW’s position on this issue has shaped national guidance signed by all chief constables. In 2021 and 2022, officers delivered,


during an intense period for the service, major events, such as Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and the Commonwealth Games. These events require thousands of officers to travel away from home. They should all be provided with the same standard of accommodation and payments, but regulations on mutual aid are interpreted differently across forces. “Mutual aid policing is becoming more consistent since PFEW raised the issue to chief officers,” PFEW Operational Lead Steve Taylor explained. “Consistency is key, but we have a set of regs to interpret how we deal with things. Some regs work well and some are not fit for purpose. “It’s not fair that you and I are stood


next to each other during a mutual aid operation and you’re receiving better treatment than me.”


24 | POLICE | DECEMBER 2022


PFEW’s Mutual Aid Working Group produced new policies and joined discussions with stakeholders, including the National Police Coordination Centre’s Operations Unit (NPoCC). It has helped the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) deliver new framework that was signed by all 43 chief constables. The framework is an agreement between NPCC and forces for negotiating, agreeing and communicating mutual aid deployment, achieving more consistency and fairness. It leaves enough flexibility for gold commanders to tailor resourcing and


Federation in agreeing this framework puts us on a better footing to ensure officers and home forces get a fair deal, and host forces can deliver large operations with skilled staff who feel valued and fairly treated.”


PFEW is calling for:


• Accommodation to be three-star/ single occupancy as a minimum. If these


• Splitting overnight allowance into three separate allowances – one for staying


standards are not met, they should receive a hardship allowance.


• Payments to reflect rises in the cost of living and inflation.


• Allowances should


“It’s not fair that you and I are stood next to each other during a mutual aid operation and you’re receiving better treatment than me”


remuneration to operations, but ties them to these principles. “We are moving in the right direction through the creation of the framework that will provide us with more ammunition if officers are not receiving what has been agreed,” Steve continued. “We can offer guidance and


interpretation, and highlight examples of best practice, but ultimately those 43


not be co-dependent. Currently, officers are not entitled to the hardship allowance, unless they are awarded the


• Personal protective equipment policy regarding non-carriage while off duty,


overnight allowance first.


• Laundry facilities for deployments over seven days, or recourse to an allowance


akin to incidental allowances for residential training courses.


suitable storage when deployed on mutual aid and refreshment facilities, so PPE can be safely removed while resting.


away from home, another for being held in reserve and a third for hardship.


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