INTERVIEW


members at the moment? CH: Policing has had a really tough time of late and I know that members will have felt this acutely. It would be presumptuous of me to guess what the biggest issues facing the membership are currently as these need to come through listening to the membership themselves. If you’re pushing me, however, I anticipate that pay and conditions, the pressure the whole holding to account regime places on officers, and regaining morale and pride in the service will feature highly.


sooner say it was different, often less professional, the demands narrower and reflected the societal context of the day. TL: Why do you want to take on this new role at the PFEW?


“The organisation is also changing


rapidly to modernise and move on from recent issues, but I do not believe this is widely understood by members, chiefs or other key stakeholders. I hope to help advocate positively on this.”


TL: Did you face any of these challenges when you were a rank-and-file officer and how did you feel about them? CH: I think concerns such as these have always existed in the police service, but I also consider they have become more acute. When I joined, I recall the outcry over removal of housing and some other allowances that officers had previously been able to claim, with longer in service colleagues suggesting things had been better previously. Society and policing have changed rapidly since, in so many ways for the better (some of the equipment we had was woeful), but this does not mean all challenges have gone away. The complexity in policing, levels of accountability and expectations on officers have all increased, with some of these challenges feeling bigger than ever. I do not subscribe to the belief that policing was better in years gone by, I’d


CH: This role was not in my thinking when I took the decision last Autumn to retire, until I received an approach about whether it may be of interest. I’ve always believed that a strong PFEW is in the best interests not only of its members but also the police service and the public themselves. I’d known PFEW had been through some challenging times lately so saw the opportunity to help the Federation re-establish itself as a strong voice for policing and its members. It’s been quite internally focussed of late, and my view is that it needs to rediscover its external influence, which I hope my involvement will be able to assist with.


TL: What value can a long-serving chief officer bring to the Police Federation which is a statutory rank- and-file staff association? CH: I thought long and hard about that question myself before accepting the role given that I was well aware others would be asking the same question - it appearing somewhat unusual. Yes, I was a


long-serving chief officer, but I was also a member of the Federation for many years. I am no longer either which will help me be more impartial in the advice I provide, whilst drawing upon the experience I have gained. I have also been very clear that I am not a decision maker in the Federation, that is for the National Board and management team. I will simply be providing my views and advice to hopefully help and assist in understanding the policing landscape and


likely perspectives of key stakeholders to better inform those who will make the decisions. I hope my experience and background can assist PFEW to become more effective for members and for the service as a whole.


TL: In the new role which will be your top three priorities for 2025? CH: It feels like PFEW has been strongly inward focused of late for understandable reasons. I would therefore like to assist PFEW to become more outward looking, vocal and influential in support of members and advancing policing generally in the year ahead. The organisation is also changing rapidly to modernise and move on from recent issues, but I do not believe this is widely understood by members, chiefs or other key stakeholders. I hope to help advocate positively on this. I also want to help the National Board navigate strategic policy and policing issues, to become still more effective and reassure them of my genuine desire to help.


Charlie Hall QPM works closely with PFEW CEO Mukund Krishna in


transforming the organisation and making it fit for the future


19 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2025


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