NEWS
PFEW says public supports organisation in pay fight with Government
The challenge to the Government from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) to increase officers’ pay and introduce an independent pay process will not go away, the organisation has warned. National Federation Chair John Apter
said the organisation felt “empowered to make a stand” because a recent poll showed the majority of the public supported the move. “We feel empowered to make a stand
because we have the incredible support of the public. Decent, law-abiding people support the incredible work police officers do,” he explained. “How do we know? We recently
conducted a poll which showed 70 per cent of the public agreed police officers should be able to make a fair case for increased pay and remuneration via a process free from political influence. Only nine per cent strongly agreed with the Government’s decision to reward hard- working officers earning £24,000 and above with a zero per cent pay increase. “It is only fair the PRRB is urgently
replaced by a pay mechanism which properly takes account of policing interests and is not manipulated by the Government. “It is time therefore for the Government to do the right thing and Protect the Protectors.” Both Mr Apter and National
Federation Secretary Alex Duncan were at the Labour Party Conference in
Brighton at the end of September and were given the backing of Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds. At conference, Mr Thomas-Symonds
said: “This Home Secretary likes to talk tough, but she never delivers. She also says she backs our frontline police officers but then she insults them with a pay freeze. It is no surprise that the Home Secretary has lost the confidence of 130,000 rank and file police officers represented by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which is the undisputed voice of policing.” Mr Apter said: “It was good to be at
the Labour Party Conference. Policing is such an important subject, so it is vital that we discuss it with all political parties. I spoke to Nick and Labour Leader Keir Starmer and was able to highlight the unrelenting pressure on my colleagues, the anger about the pay freeze and the need for more support for policing from politicians.” In July, PFEW’s National Council passed a motion of “no confidence” in Home Secretary Priti Patel and decided to walk away from the “not fit for purpose” Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB). Since the meeting, the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) has also withdrawn from the PRRB process. Three quarters of officers in England
and Wales have admitted experiencing mental health or wellbeing difficulties in the past year. Mr Apter added: “On top of this
Nick Thomas-Symonds, John Apter and Sir Keir Starmer
burden, my colleagues have been appalled by the contempt and disrespect which has been consistently shown to them by this Government. This is galling when you consider their heroic personal efforts and sacrifices throughout the pandemic. “Through no fault of their own, police
officers had to endure PPE shortages, were not prioritised for the vaccination after healthcare workers and the most vulnerable and faced an avalanche of spitting and coughing attacks by despicable individuals who weaponised Covid. “To add insult to injury, the Government then announced a zero per cent pay increase for police officers – while some other key workers received a deserved rise. This pay injustice was the final straw for the Federation and its members. “As National Chair of the Police
Federation of England and Wales, I helped hand-deliver a forthright letter to Downing Street which expressed how our membership felt towards this Government. Our demands were crystal clear – overturn the unjust pay award decision and establish a truly independent, fairer pay review system.”
Chair brands murderer a ‘disgrace to our uniform’
Police Federation National Chair John Apter has branded convicted killer Wayne Couzens a “disgrace to our uniform” and admitted he felt “ashamed that Couzens was ever a police officer”. Couzens was given a rare whole life
sentence for the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard and was told by a judge his “warped, selfish and brutal” crimes had damaged public confidence in the police. The 48-year-old was a serving
Metropolitan Police officer and used his warrant card and handcuffs to kidnap the 33-year-old marketing executive last March. He has since been linked to a
flashing incident in 2015 and two others just days before he killed Sarah. Commenting on the harrowing case, John said: “This predator is an absolute disgrace to the police service, and I am totally ashamed that he was ever a police officer.
“I am proud to carry a warrant card,
but this vile individual’s abuse of that authority has cast a shadow on all those who work within policing. He has brought disgrace to our uniform. “The way he took advantage of Sarah’s
trust makes me feel sick to the stomach. “No sentence will ever ease the pain for the family and friends of Sarah or undo
the terrible damage this disgusting man has done. He doesn’t deserve to have another single day of freedom and I hope every day he spends in prison is a long one.
“My thoughts, and those of all my
colleagues, remain entirely with Sarah’s family and friends.” Home Secretary Priti Patel has
announced an independent inquiry into the “systematic failures” that allowed Couzens to be employed as a police officer. Speaking at the Conservative Party
conference, Ms Patel said the public needed answers to ensure “something like this can never happen again.”
05 I POLICE I OCTOBER 2021
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