SUB-COMMITTEES


Considering the ‘Welsh angle’


The diferences between policing in Wales and policing in England are often overlooked, according to Nicky Ryan, the new Welsh Lead on our Parliamentary Sub-Committee. A Gwent Fed Rep, and a police ofcer


since 1996, she observes that: “People do not always understand the role of the Senedd, the Welsh Government, and the need for us to engage with Senedd members as well as our MPs in Westminster. There are some diferences in law-making processes too and we need to raise awareness of those.” Nicky chairs the Federation’s Welsh


driver protections and the Police Covenant – started from conversations with MPs who have then advocated for these campaigns on our behalf. The more MPs who are aware and supportive our campaigns, the better our chances of seeing positive change. PSC engages with MPs through


events we host at Westminster or at Party Conferences, as well as face-to- face meetings at Parliament. Cicero/ AMO, who also lobby on our behalf, carry out an annual perceptions audit with MPs to gauge their impressions of the Federation. Tiff explains: “From this we know we are now seen as a body that is approachable to have informed and educated conversations.”


Afairs Sub-Committee, which includes representatives from the four Welsh Federation branches and members of the Federation’s National Board. The committee is also assisted by the Superintendents’ Association and has a political adviser for Welsh Parliament issues. Nicky’s remit includes everything from the pandemic to mental health and helping


Nicky Ryan, left, and Mark


Bleasdale


shape new legislation. This allows her to bring a Welsh perspective to the Parliamentary Sub-Committee. She takes over as Welsh Lead


from Mark Bleasdale, a former Dyfed Powys Police Federation Chair, who retired from policing at the end of March. He feels that raising the profile of Welsh issues is one of the achievements of his time in the role. “People now stop to consider whether


there might be a diferent ‘Welsh angle’ to an issue they are dealing with, and I think this shows that we have really started the journey to full understanding,” he says.


Campaigns and engagement


Since 2016 the Federation has used the services of Cicero/AMO to further our political campaigns and engagement with Government and MPs. Cicero/AMO is a leading public afairs


and communications agency providing award- winning corporate, political and regulatory campaigns across all major business sectors. Working through PFEW’s Parliamentary


Sub Committee, Cicero/AMO have provided counsel on the political issues and campaigns of the day as well as supporting the organisation’s outreach to Ministers, MPs and policymakers. Cicero/AMO worked on the Protect the


Protectors campaign from its early stages, playing a supporting role in passing the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Ofences) Act 2018, which doubled the maximum sentence for those convicted of attacking a police ofcer. During the Act’s passage through Parliament, Cicero/AMO helped guide the Federation through the political process as well as line up supportive MPs and Lords to make


the case for the legislation to Government. More recently, they supported


campaigns for a Police Covenant and police pursuits – with both issues set to be addressed by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. They have also supported the


organisation’s outreach to MPs. There is an opportunity for Federation branches to engage more often with their local MPs. Parliamentarians regularly meet with the leadership of their local force or their PCC, and by meeting with the Federation, we can ensure that members’ concerns will be at the forefront of those conversations.


Tom Wilkins


Matthew Dunn


APRIL 2021 | POLICE | 27


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