THE CHAIR ANSWERS
THE CHAIR ANSWERS
PFEW National Chair John Apter answers members’ questions each month
Q1: What is the Fed position on police ofcers having Test and Trace on their personal mobile? Our position is that the app is an important part of controlling the virus and ofcers should be encouraged and permitted to have it on their personal mobile phones.
6 Are we on target to achieve the 20,000 uplift?
JA: The promise from the PM was 20,000 officers. We’ve heard about the problems and opportunities. We’ve just passed year one – are we going to get there by year three? JM: Absolutely. We’ve recruited just over 7,000 new officers so far, so we’re well on the way to that 20,000. Once we get there, we’ll have a more representative workforce with talented people who are able to support policing going forward. We’re putting down foundations for the future of the police service and everyone has a stake in that. JA: Recruitment and retention should go hand in hand. Hopefully people have got an insight into the programme you’re leading and it’s not just a case of opening up recruitment and keeping fingers crossed. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and good luck with the rest of the programme.
Q2: I work in Custody. The mental health professionals are vaccinated. The sergeants and detention ofcers are not. Same building, same customers diferent treatment – why? This is absolute bonkers and defies logic. I stand by what I’ve said that police ofcers should be prioritised because of the unique job they do. I’ll continue to push that with the government and anybody else who will listen. There is a real discrepancy and police ofcers feel very betrayed.
Q3: As a serving Hampshire ofcer, I was disappointed to see the pay freeze. Will the Fed put pressure on Government to suspend the looming clif edge with the pension transition until pay has caught up?
I agree this is a double whammy. We all understand why the pay freeze has been brought in, fortunately the government listened to us and kept the increments and promotion pay increments in place – a small but significant victory. We’ll continue to highlight the pressures on ofcers but we’re in really difcult times as you’ll appreciate.
Q4: Can the Federation continue to push for double crewed ofcers and Taser rollouts? Ofcer safety has and always will be a main priority and focus for me. We’ve achieved some good things with Taser including ringfenced funding. Many chiefs have increased the number of ofcers who are Taser trained. I believe every ofcer who wants it should have it. As for double crewing, it’s a false economy to single crew because the ofcer is less safe, and we could end up having multiple units going to a job. I would urge chief constables to commission a study into the benefits of predominantly double crewing vehicles. I suspect you’ll get jobs done more quickly, it’ll be safer, and police ofcers will feel more valued.
Have you a question to ask John Apter? Email:
editor@polfed.org
APRIL 2021 | POLICE | 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
