REPS AT WORK
New Reps Spotlight
Detective Sergeant Devan Taylor has dedicated almost two decades to the service. After being voted for by his peers, he reflects on why he decided to become a rep
“Officers sometimes get hung out
to dry – that’s where we come in and make decisions about the care and wellbeing of our colleagues”
“I’ve been in the police for over 18 years
now and I’ve been through a lot with what’s happening in the service, and, of course, I have been affected by all the Government changes to our pensions and our pay and conditions and so on,” DS Taylor, part of the Met homicide team, explained. “I felt I understood all the issues at our
level, and I’ve experienced those hard times that the older generation talk about, and younger generation probably hear about, so
38 | POLICE | DECEMBER 2022
I’m that middle man. I wanted to give back to colleagues where I can.” Devan, having witnessed officers being criticised unfairly in the media, and not receiving adequate support from the force on certain matters, feels passionate about helping colleagues and speaking up for them in their time of need. “It is well documented that over recent
years, officers sometimes get hung out to dry and it’s just unfair – they’re left alone
and do not have a voice. That’s where we come in and make decisions about the care and wellbeing of our colleagues. This is an opportunity for me to step in and give something back,” he commented. “I’ve gained a lot of experience and I’m well-placed to stand up for colleagues, be their voice in the darkest times and hold the organisation accountable. Officers are doing the toughest job out there and it’s only right they have someone to give them a bit of support and have their backs.” Born and raised in London to an Indian father and an English mother, he spoke about the value of representation in the community and Federation: “I understand the outcries from people when they say, ‘We need someone that’s visible, someone that looks like us, talks like us, walks like us’. I get that argument because it’s true. When I was growing up, the service wasn’t that diverse, so when you wanted to try and speak to the officers, if they weren’t representative or didn’t understand your way of life or your culture, it became difficult,” explained Devan. “This is why we need Federation representation to be similar, because what I experienced in the community with not being able to speak to someone in uniform, might be the same with someone who’s in uniform right now not being able or wanting to speak to a Fed rep. It’s important to strike the right balance,” he added. Devan highlighted the importance of diverse Fed reps being visible and supporting members at public enquiries to instil public confidence in the service. Misconduct and gross misconduct is his area of interest – during his time as a rep, he has seen unfounded claims made against members. “It’s not easy work, which I accept and understand. It’s not easy because you’re dealing with misconduct issues that could have a detrimental effect
on colleagues in their darkest times,” he said. “I found a similar satisfaction to when I’ve convicted murderer and they’ve been sentenced to 30 years. It’s a good feeling, getting an officer exonerated for something they did not do. “I’m looking forward to the challenges
ahead. It’s not going to be easy and I’m still learning, but I’m not scared to fight for people. I’ll represent members as best as I can and make sure they get the best advice and support.”
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