NEWS


Personal Development Review with my line manager, giving me the chance to reflect on my first year as an elected full- time representative. One area of work I’m particularly proud of is raising awareness of gambling addiction. In policing, gambling addiction can


often be the overlooked addiction because it is so easy to hide. With the national Federation’s #CoppedEnough campaign highlighting financial pressures faced by officers, combined with stagnant wages and the impact of trauma exposure, I believe gambling-related harm presents a genuine risk to our members. With a World Cup summer on the horizon, if my awareness work has encouraged even one officer to pause and think about their gambling habits, then it has been worthwhile. Wednesday took me to Watford


Police Station, where I represented a member during a pre-UPP attendance case conference. Attendance cases can be complex, and it is vital that officers returning to work receive the right support. Fortunately, many line managers across Hertfordshire are excellent at managing these situations, which makes a significant difference. While at Watford, I also addressed the Response Team during their early-turn briefing before later meeting members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Station visits remain one of the most rewarding parts of the job. They help me stay connected to the operational realities our members face every day while providing officers with direct access to a full-time representative. Whether officers want to ask questions in a group


setting or discuss concerns privately, those conversations matter. Building relationships early also means that if an officer later requires representation, particularly in misconduct matters, they already know who to turn to. That familiarity can be incredibly important, especially when considering the potential mental health impact of conduct investigations. Thursday was dedicated to preparation


“Building relationships early also means that if an officer later requires representation, particularly in misconduct matters, they already know who to turn to.”


work ahead of a misconduct meeting scheduled for the following week. Much of that involved ensuring the officer involved had all the information they needed, checking on their welfare and drafting mitigation to present the strongest possible case on their behalf. Friday was spent at Federation


Headquarters dealing with member enquiries and progressing casework before the weekend began. At 7am on Friday, I also started my on-call period, which would continue until 7am on Monday morning. Federation support never stops. Every day of the year, 24 hours a day, there is a representative available to respond when needed. Force Control Room supervisors have our contact details and know how to reach us, whether the issue involves officer welfare, post-incident procedures or urgent legal assistance.


Over the past three months, Hertfordshire Police Federation has been trialling weekend station visits while representatives are on call. Walking into a briefing room on a Saturday morning as a Federation rep can sometimes be met with a little apprehension, but that quickly disappears. The feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive and the visits provide valuable insight into the pressures officers continue to face. That reality was particularly evident on Saturday when a number of officers from the Response Team were immediately redeployed to hospital and scene guards straight after briefing, placing additional pressure on those remaining on duty. As I write this,


another week is already underway and, unsurprisingly, it promises to be just as busy. We have our Branch Council meeting scheduled, alongside a misconduct hearing later in the week. I will also be attending the monthly sickness review meeting, where we discuss cases involving officers who have been absent for more than six months and whether continued full pay remains appropriate. These conversations are often difficult. Behind every case is an individual facing significant challenges. However, they are also an important reminder of why Federation representation matters. Ensuring officers’ interests are properly represented, particularly when they are at their most vulnerable, remains one of the most important aspects of the role. It is never a predictable job, and that is exactly what makes it so rewarding.


09 | POLICE | JUNE | 2026


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