NEWS
RESTORING FAITH WHEN IT MATTERED MOST
PC Lyndsey Dagley recalls a time when a Federation rep went above and beyond in her time of need
Policing is built on principles of fairness, accountability and support. When those principles falter, particularly during moments of professional vulnerability, the consequences can be profound. I know this firsthand. What ultimately restored my faith was the exceptional work of Metropolitan Police Federation Representative Andy Swift, whose professionalism, integrity, and compassion exemplify the very best of what Federation representation should be.
I am a PC, currently serving within the Met’s Learning and Development team, with nearly 16 years of service. I became subject to a prolonged and disproportionate Professional Standards Department investigation following malicious complaints connected to a deeply personal family matter involving
06 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2026
my child. The process was devastating. It affected my mental health, disrupted my family life and significantly undermined my professional confidence. My initial experience of Federation support during this period was,
the Police Federation of England and Wales. A peer recommendation changed everything.
“One of the most significant differences in Andy’s approach was his complete impartiality.”
regrettably, poor. Despite raising serious concerns, including potential breaches of GDPR, discrimination, and misconduct in public office, I felt unheard and unsupported. Over time, this led to a complete loss of faith in the Federation, and I was actively considering withdrawing my membership from
I worked with two different Fed representatives from my force during this process. The first was knowledgeable and experienced and by any objective measure, a good fit. However, living with ADHD and PTSD meant my needs extended beyond technical competence, I required a level of emotional reassurance and support
that I struggled to articulate at the time. To his credit, he listened with grace and understanding, but I was ultimately asking for something he wasn’t positioned to provide. That led me to Andy Swift. From our very first conversation, Andy demonstrated an exceptional level of
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