CHAIR ASKS


we have to tackle not only getting people the right support - but also we must push to get better, more consistent data sets nationally.


This means we can not only show the true, quite alarming picture of what’s really going on, but also use it to improve criminal justice outcomes and compensation. These have drifted in recent years, and we need to urgently get them back on track or our people will wonder what the point is of recording assaults against them. My position is very clear on this - if we tolerate assaults against our own people, the severity will escalate against the police and also the public.


TL: Support for women going through the menopause is a real issue facing police forces at the moment, with one in three having considered resigning due to the debilitating symptoms. What does Oscar Kilo plan on doing to help make the changes needed? AR: It is a massive issue for our women officers and staff and we are making a fresh commitment to work with the national Menopause Action Group (MAG) and staff associations to offer more support. It’s not just about reducing stigma, it’s also about equipping line managers and the whole organisation, to respond in the right way when someone reaches out for support. The MAG has done amazing work, and we are taking their steer as to how best we can help them. For me, the menopause should be recognised as a strategic workforce priority now because unless we start seeing it in this way, we’ll lose some


amazing women from policing who we don’t need to lose.


TL: Transitioning from chief constable at Lancashire Constabulary to service director at Oscar Kilo, which are the three biggest challenges police officers in England and Wales are facing? AR: Number one for me is the lack of space and time to gain experience and knowledge (if you are a new recruit) and the subsequent pressure this places on more experienced officers. In 30 years’ service, I never felt we ever had enough time to do this and there is even less room to move now. We have to prioritise training in the same way that other blue light services and the armed forces do. The second area affecting


are out keeping us all safe 24/7 - and they deserve the recognition.


TL: If you could wave a wand and put something in place for all of policing, what would it be? AR: Enough people, space and time to create a working environment that enables us to be proactive, victim focused and at the same time, is conducive to our own physical and mental health. It’s not a pipe dream, and in many of the countries I speak to it actually happens.


“Enough people, space and time to create a working environment that enables us to be proactive, victim focused and at the same time, is conducive to our own physical and mental health. It’s not a pipe dream, and in many of the countries I speak to it actually happens.”


officers is the sheer amount of information they are asked to make sense of when making critical decisions, whilst also facing an unprecedented level of accountability. Of course we need to be held accountable for our decisions, but there needs to be a balance. Finally, I’d argue that we have fallen into the trap of believing our own bad publicity from time to time and the huge pride our officers and staff report feeling is at risk of being eroded. I was always the first to accept criticism when we messed up, but let’s never forget how often we get it right as well. Our officers and staff


TL: What is one of Oscar Kilo’s main priorities moving into 2025? AR: We have pulled together all our research and practice from over a decade’s worth of Oscar Kilo work and nailed our colours to the mast to provide forces with 100 per cent clarity on what they should be prioritising to improve workplace health. The ‘Workforce Prioritisation


Guidance’ is being rolled out as we speak, and it’s being very well


received. Money is always tight, but we can’t afford to take our eye off the health of our people – in fact we need to push the Oscar Kilo work even harder. Combining this prioritisation guidance with a relentless focus on how all our services make an impact to the person on the street or answering calls is where we are putting our effort over the next 12 months.


Find out more about the Work Prioritisation Guidance here: www.oscarkilo.org.uk/workforce- prioritisation-guidance


27 | POLICE | DECEMBER | 2024


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