SUB-COMMITTEES
A VOICE FOR WALES
As part of our regular series on the work of the Police Federation, we speak to Nicky Ryan about the Welsh Afairs Sub-Committee (WASC)
S
everal years ago, Sam Roberts, a Welsh member of the Police Federation’s National Board,
had what colleagues described as her ‘Braveheart moment’. Leaping to her feet during one particularly frustrating meeting, she declared: “Wales is not a region – it’s a country!” It proved to be a turning point in how
Wales was considered by the national Federation, paving the way for the creation of a Welsh Lead and to the Welsh Affairs Sub-Committee, known as WASC. Nicky Ryan is the current Welsh
Lead and chairs the WASC. New in post, she brings boundless enthusiasm and determination to the role. Nicky has been a Fed rep for seven years and a Gwent police officer since 1996, when she joined policing after serving in the Royal Air Force. She revealed: “I’d always wanted to
be a police officer, but my mum tried to talk me into a safer career. I worked in a communications role in the RAF for five years, but then my mum had some health problems and being away from home became a worry. By coincidence, Gwent Police had just taken over policing the Rhymney Valley in South Wales and were recruiting – it was like it was meant to be. I left my job on the Friday and started with the police on the Monday.” Nicky had ideas about transferring to
South Wales Police, but she fell for the charms of Gwent, a “small force where everyone knows each other”. Nineteen years later and, having been supported by the Federation on a few occasions, she became a Fed rep to give something back. She started attending WASC meetings
and has recently succeeded Mark Bleasdale as Chair. The other members include representatives of the four Welsh Federations and PFEW National Board members Zac Mader, Belinda Goodwin and Ian Saunders – the latter two being part of the Metropolitan and Greater Manchester Federations with experience of those devolved governments.
38 I POLICE I JUNE 2021 Nicky explained: “The main difference
for policing in Wales is beholden to two masters. We are fundamentally controlled by Westminster, like all policing, but many of our stakeholders - health, mental health, environment, transport, local government, licensing - are devolved. We have a Welsh parliament (the Senedd) making legislation that affects Welsh officers and our officers are often pulled in two directions.” A good example is Covid. English
forces had something like 60 pieces of legislation to cope with, while in Wales it was around 90, said Nicky. Anything the Federation agrees with Westminster MPs, such as around mental health or the Police Covenant, needs to be negotiated separately with the Senedd. Nicky credits her colleagues
Zac, former PFEW National Chair Calum Macleod and her Welsh Lead predecessor, among others, for ensuring that the Federation is more attuned to Welsh issues. These days announcements take account of the Welsh perspective, and documents are translated into Welsh when possible. The Thomas Commission – a report by
Wales’ former Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwngiedd – made recommendations last year for how policing and criminal justice functions could be devolved. The Federation’s stance is that, while it agrees that policing could be devolved, whether it should, is a matter for elected representatives. Nicky’s priority is to make contacts
with Welsh MPs, Senedd Members and the new Police and Crime Commissioners who have taken office following the elections on 6 May. The Federation hosted virtual hustings for Welsh PCC candidates during the elections, allowing some of their 7,500 police officers to question to the candidates. Nicky also held a ‘Meet the Welsh Lead’ event for the media in May, as part of her efforts to raise the profile of PFEW in Wales.
She added: “One of my priorities is to
get to know the new Senedd members and get them to consult with the Federation. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary highlighted that some previous legislation made without consultation was unworkable – it didn’t have clarity between what was law and what was advisory. So, it’s important we add our perspective and make them aware that a chief constable has a very different view to the Federation – we come at it from a different angle.” Zac, Secretary of WASC, believes the
group has achieved a sea change for Wales already. He said: “The importance of Wales within the Federation has really landed. There is now a far greater understanding of the differences in Wales and that has put PFEW in better position for success. If we look at the assaults on emergency workers legislation, that work started in the Senedd and Chris Bryant, a Welsh MP, took that forward at Westminster – obviously we’re looking for sentences to be doubled in the near future. “Covid has consumed the focus of members of the Senedd and ministers and that’s understandable but going forward there’s a real opportunity for us to re-engage and strengthen relationships.”
Nicky Ryan
Zac Mader
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