EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOW
MEMBERS ARE FEELING THE HEAT
New uniforms for ever hotter summers and how to cope with traumatic bluelight incidents were among the topics discussed at the Emergency Services Show
Police Federation of England and Wales’ (PFEW’s) National Board and National Council reps took the time to speak to members face to face and listen to the issues they are experiencing on the ground at this year’s Emergency Services Show. Over the course of two days [21-22 September] at the NEC in Birmingham, PFEW also engaged with the wider policing family, key figures, Fed reps and emergency service workers, and shared practical solutions and good practice at the breakout sessions. On day one, our National Board Member
Steve Taylor discussed the emerging issue of working conditions if 40-degree-Celsius days become the norm during UK summers. PFEW’s Health and Safety Business Area has introduced a new national policy, working with forces, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing to ensure the welfare of officers when
40 | POLICE | OCTOBER 2022
working in adverse heat.
“Having summer uniform and winter uniform used to be the position of the police. It is not practical to find that elixir of one piece of uniform that does all those things,” he explained.
“To what extent is that acceptable? Do we need more resources, more officers on shift, so officers are able to take refreshment breaks?” he asked. Steve went on to highlight the
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...you cannot spend all day in 40-degree heat in a stab vest and not have your performance suffer as a result”
“We haven’t invested enough in how officers are dressed or prepared to meet the challenges they have to meet – more fool us really.” It is also vital officers take regular refreshment breaks in adverse conditions, Steve added, acknowledging however that officers are unable to do this sometimes due to the demands they are dealing with.
importance of officers taking steps to protect themselves: “It is vital to stay hydrated, take opportunities to cool down, take opportunities to take the kit off. It’s important to get those stab vests off; you cannot spend all day in 40-degree heat in a stab vest and not have
your performance suffer as a result.” But public support is just as important, with a culture change needed in society which sees emergency services taking public breaks as acceptable and not a topic which needs to be spotlighted in the media and across social media.
“When we have those extremes of weather, it shouldn’t be unreasonable for
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