NEWS FEDERATION


WELFARE VANS READY FOR CHALLENGE OF G7


The Federation’s welfare support vans will shortly face their ultimate challenge – at the G7 Summit in Cornwall this month. They will be deployed to the seaside


resort of Carbis Bay, where world leaders are gathering from 11 to 13 June amid tight security and the inevitable protests. Approximately 5,000 officers will be posted to provide mutual aid for a week or longer. Steve Taylor, a National Board


member at the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), said: “We will have a team of eight Fed reps there from around the country to support our Devon and Cornwall colleagues. The ground is ripe for protest just now – we’ve seen that already this year without the international protest that the G7 attracts normally.” The Federation’s nine welfare vans


have proven their worth at the Black Lives Matter protests in London, Prince Philip’s funeral in Windsor and numerous local events. Some have toilet facilities, and all can be used for hot drinks and snacks. Steve added: “Our vans are available


24/7 and are deployed to scenes of every description, such as the incident in Essex


where 39 bodies were found in the back of a lorry in Tilbury. “In these such situations, the press can


be there in force – and the van provides a place for our officers to get out of their camera focus and be able to take a rest. On scene guarding, where there is no ready access to toilet facilities, it also comes in useful.” North Wales Police Federation’s van will be one of three at G7 - alongside Hertfordshire and Thames Valley. It has previously been used to support prostate testing for officers, helping identify at least six colleagues whose subsequent cancer could have gone undiagnosed. Mark Jones, Secretary of North Wales


Police Federation, commented: “Our van was provided in partnership with North Wales Police and converted for our needs. We’ve put in things like USB charging stations, a solar panel on the roof and a huge awning that can come out of the side for shelter. We want the focus to be on welfare and wellbeing and to create a place where officers can feel safe.” The Federation even has a Welfare


Van Working Group which encompasses the branches with existing vans, plus half a dozen more that are working towards having them. Its next quarterly meeting to share good practice and resolve common problems is in August. Andy Berry, Chair of Devon and


Cornwall Police Federation, sums up: “G7 is an opportunity for the Federation to showcase how it supports members. This includes how we deliver extra welfare over and above the local force during the event. I’m grateful for the engagement and support of the other Federations to come along with their welfare vans.” Following G7, the


vans will also be called upon for COP26, the major climate change conference being held in Glasgow in November.


Steve Taylor


League tables would create ‘target-driven culture’


The Federation has warned of a ‘damaging, target-driven culture’ if the Home Secretary goes ahead with plans for police force league tables. Police chiefs have been told they will be measured against national benchmarks for six crime types including homicide, serious violence and cyber-crime. In 2007, when targets were last introduced, PFEW successfully


06 I POLICE I JUNE 2021


campaigned for their abolition after it led to ‘ludicrous’ decisions such as arresting a child for throwing a cucumber slice. PFEW National Chair John Apter said: “Scrutiny and accountability are already a large part of policing so these proposals for league tables will herald a return to a damaging, target-driven culture. Mechanisms for holding individuals and forces to account are in place and we are already among the most


scrutinised professionals in the world. “My message to Government would


be to stop and think before returning to the mistakes of its predecessors. These league tables would also restrict the ability of forces to focus on local issues because chief officers would be chasing targets which were judged on criteria set in Whitehall. If, despite these warnings this is pursued, it will fail, and it will be damaging.”


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