NEWS


WOMEN-ONLY FITNESS TESTS


Female officers in Derbyshire can now take their fitness tests separately from male colleagues. The Force introduced women-only tests


last year after Derbyshire Police Federation secretary Kirsty Bunn and the Force’s equality unit became aware many women were feeling anxious about taking the tests. “We believed taking the tests alongside


male colleagues was a contributory factor,” she said. “We were not seeking any preferential treatment for women but felt that since, both nationally and locally, the pass rate for females is lower than that of males, something needed to be done to help address their anxiety. “The standard of fitness test 5:4 is not compromised but women officers who feel that anxiety or concern have the opportunity to take the test in a female-only environment which they may be more comfortable with,” she added.


The initial round of tests proved popular,


and helped improve pass rates, and although the tests were initially suspended during the pandemic, women-only dates are now set monthly right into 2021. Women can still take the fitness test in mixed groups if they prefer.


Welsh affairs


The differing lockdown guidelines in Wales, forthcoming legislative change and plans for working with Senedd Members and other stakeholders were all discussed at the latest meeting of the Police Federation of England and Wales Welsh Affairs Sub- Committee (WASC). The WASC meeting


was chaired by the Federation’s Welsh Lead, Mark Bleasdale, and began with a short update from the National Chair of the Police Federation, John Apter.


Kirsty Bunn


Mark outlined his progress in building relations with the Welsh Government and individuals since taking on the Welsh Lead role in November last year. While in recent


Federation support helps reduce sickness rates


Officers off sick for more than four weeks are now routinely offered support from a workplace representative under an initiative launched by Cheshire Police Federation. Dan Lever,


Dan Lever


who was elected as Wellbeing and Equality Lead, a full-time role in last July, worked with his force to ensure the Federation receives the list of


officers on long-term sick and assigns a rep to each officer named. “The rep gets in touch with the officer,


finds out the nature of their illness, discusses whether we can offer any support and also liaises with their line manager or supervisor,


perhaps helping arrange a phased return to duties,” Dan explains. “In some cases, we have helped arrange


physiotherapy, sometimes paid for through the Benevolent Fund, or we have put them in touch with organisations that can help with mental health support after assessing which would be the most suitable for them.” Cheshire was averaging around 80 officers on long-term sick but, since the launch of the initiative, this has now fallen to 35.


“Officers complained previously that when they were off sick no-one bothered to contact them, and this gave them little incentive to return to work. We have changed this. Sickness levels have fallen, and we have reduced the number of officers reaching that critical point when they fall from full to half pay,” said Dan.


months, he had been largely reliant on video conference and telephone calls, he said he had formed some effective links including regular contact with Paul Morris, who heads up the Police Liaison Unit in the Welsh Government. Addressing the


pandemic, Mark said the four Welsh forces and Federation branches had worked together as a cohesive unit.


Mark Bleasdale SEPTEMBER 2020 | POLICE | 31


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