pthe police feoderation of englland & walies ce ... · former chair of dorset police...

POLICEThe Police Federation of England & Wales www.polfed.org

August 2015

The quiet policingrevolution

How the Leadership Review could quietly change British policing

n Independent review of deaths in custody must look at resources

5 EditorialChiefs back more support for assaulted officers

6 View from the chair: Steve White urges MPs to show that they value the British police serviceBravery Awards highlight the courageous acts of officers

7 Local Focus: Brian Docherty, chair of the Scottish Police Federation

8 The Station Sergeant is... Highlighting custody challengesReview of deaths in custody must address resources, access to healthcare and trainingCustody officers’ powers protected in new guidance on how forces deal with incidents

11 Memorial Day to give special recognition to Clutha Vaults Bar helicopter crash victims

12 Officers benefiting from new Welfare Support Programme14 The Bigger Picture: Officers escort VJ Day veterans in

70th anniversary celebrations

16 The quiet policing revolutionThe College of Policing has set out a number of recommendations which could transform the British policing model as we know it and possibly even spell the end of the traditional Bobby. Syreeta Lund writes

20 I need a hero... or not?The shortcomings of over-blown hero leaders have been in question for some time in the field of leadership development. Author on the subject Mark McKergow writes

24 Members’ benefits

26 View from the sidelines: Clive Chamberlain, former chair of Dorset Police Federation, takes a different look at life

Nick O’Time cartoon

27 Sudoku

Editor:Syreeta Lund

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The views expressed within the magazine are notnecessarily the views of theJoint Central Committee of thePolice Federation of Englandand Wales.

ChairSteve WhiteGeneral Secretary:Andy FittesTreasurer:Martyn MordecaiVice-Chair:Will RichesDeputy General Secretary:Andy WardDeputy Treasurer:Geoff Stuttaford

© The Police Federation 2015Reproduction strictly forbidden unless by prior arrangement with the publishers.

Cover picture:Smikeymikey1 / ShutterstockVladimirFloyd / iStockphoto

www.polfed.org August 2015 POLICE 13

POLICE August 2015 – in this issue:

NEWS & COMMENT

FEATURES

REGULARS

p26

p11

p8

p20

40 POLICE August 2015 www.polfed.org

Chiefs back more supportfor assaulted officers

www.polfed.org

Make cuts by reducing number of forces,not stopping officers attending crimes

August 2015 POLICE 15

NEWS n

Have you heard of the leadershipreview, or does it provoke the sameresponse as someone asking if youhave read Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace or know much about Snapchat?Your eyes glaze over, you sip your mug of tea and carry on with lifethinking you probably should know, but drift off instead.Well, in a nutshell, the College of

Policing put together the leadershipreview. It’s not just about leaders, it’s agame-changer; it sets out some fairlyradical recommendations which, ifimplemented, could completely changethe structure of British policing and therole and powers of police officers. The document debates some

fundamental questions around rankstructure, the possibility of giving theOffice of Constable powers to policestaff and others, as well as direct entry. The Police Federation is carefully

considering the recommendations.What’s for certain is that the Federationwill be sure to challenge any ‘back-door’ reform which erodes theindependent Office of Constable. Despite a press conference on the

review at 8am one sunny morn, theredoesn’t appear to be a huge amount of debate going on among cops. It’s not a sexy document, although there is an attractive infographic on theCollege’s website. Senior police leaders have certainly

been doing some bedtime reading (seefeature, The quiet policing revolutionon p16). So, before you begin to driftoff, please read the article andcomment via @SyreetaLund under#LeadershipReview. We want to knowwhat you think.

Under-the-radarrevolution

Editorial August 2015

Follow me on Twitter @SyreetaLund

Syreeta Lund, Editor

Police leaders are backing the need forofficers to be treated as victims whenthey are subjected to assaults as theHome Office looks at compiling morerobust figures nationally. John Apter, chair of Hampshire Police

Federation, has spearheaded acampaign with chief constable AndyMarsh to make sure officers are nottreated as second-class victims.Recent figures, released by Parliament,

for the numbers of assaults acrossforces show around 65 officers beingassaulted each day in 2014/15, 23,000 intotal across England and Wales.Mr Apter went to speak personally,

alongside his chief, to the NationalPolice Chiefs’ Council to promoteimproving the way forces deal withassaulted officers.Sara Thornton, chair of the National

Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), has saidthat “employees deserve the same careand justice as anybody else when theyare a victim of crime” and she hopedthat chiefs would consider how theywork with police federations to addressthe issues in their force.

Mr Apter, supported by his force, puttogether a seven-point plan to help setout standards of investigation whenofficers are subjected to an assault. AlexMarshall, CEO of the College of Policing,which looks at setting standards inpolicing, has also spoken of his supportand said there is a need for a nationalpicture of assaults.

Haphazard figuresCurrently, many forces compile their

figures on assaults in a “haphazard”way, says Mr Apter, but the Home Officeis working on creating a more consistentway of looking at the numbers ofnational assaults and working with thenational Federation.Mr Apter added: “We have achieved

lots and are making a difference butthere is more to do. I am now workingwith HMIC to see how they can help tomake sure this important work isembedded within forces.” To view a copy of the seven-point plan,

visit www.npcc.police.uk/documents/Communications/Seven%20Point%20Plan.JPG

The chair of the Police Federation hascalled for the number of forces to be cutto make savings, rather than preventingofficers attending burglaries to cut costs. Steve White’s comments follow those of

Sara Thornton, chair of the NationalPolice Chiefs’ Council, who caused somecontroversy during a BBC interview whenshe questioned whether police officersshould be attending all burglaries in thelight of dwindling resources andincreased pressures.In response, Mr White questioned what

the police could realistically stop doingwhen the public would still expect thepolice to continue to deal with burglaryand many other crimes in the same way.He added: “If there is to be no more

money, we must find it by reducing thenumber of forces, making ad hoc

collaborations definite and releaseefficiencies and resources to ensure wecan continue to offer the police servicethe public want and which officers at alllevels want to provide.”Ms Thornton later clarified her

comments, saying that she appreciatedthe impact that burglaries have on theirvictims but evidence has shown whatworks in solving burglaries. In a recentblog, she stated: “Either officers get there quickly and catch the offenders red-handed or forensic evidence isgathered from the scene. If the offendershave fled the scene before the police arecalled then fingerprints, footwear marksand DNA could be gathered withoutsending an officer.”You can read the blog at:

www.npcc.police.uk/ThePoliceChiefsBlog


As officers come to terms with therestraints on public sector pay, thenews of a ten per cent increase forMPs was a bitter pill to swallow.It’s not about who is more deserving,

but, as we are all in this together,surely this cannot be justified whenwe had to jump through hoops toachieve one per cent.Is it any wonder that we are fast

losing all that is good in policing – its people. Our recent pay andmorale survey showed that one in sixplan to leave the service in the nexttwo years. And yet the survey alsoshows the goodwill that still exists,with the majority saying they would go the extra mile to keep the publicfrom harm. What more evidence does the government need to startputting their money where theirmouth is?Police officers are proud to protect

and serve but the reality is that the cuts have left many in financialhardship. And the College of Policing’s recently publishedLeadership Review signals morechange to come (see p16).As officers in mid-service plan to

leave in their droves, we are on veryshaky ground. Experienced officerswant to leave and there is littleincentive to join.To those holding the reigns of the

service – show our officers and thecountry that you value this vital publicservice. We are losing officers left, rightand centre; those who remain cannotsurvive on lip service alone.

A bitter pill to swallow

View fromthe chair

Follow me on Twitter @PFEW_Chair

n NEWS

Steve White, chair of thePoliceFederation

Bravery Awards highlight thecourageous acts of officers

A police officer who received multiple stab wounds when a manlunged at him with a commando-styleknife has been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards, alongwith his colleague.PC Adam Koch and PC Jean Stevens,

both West Midlands officers, were calledto a mosque in Washwood Heath inBirmingham after three worshippershad been stabbed.

Wrestle the offenderPC Koch looked on in disbelief as

the man simply shrugged off a policeTaser before attacking him, stabbinghim in the chest and stomach as heattempted to wrestle the offender to the ground. PC Stevens, seeing that the

offender was attempting to stab hercolleague further, struck him severaltimes with a baton before disarmingand arresting him.

Ch Supt Alex Murray, policecommander for Birmingham East, said: “Two people had already beenstabbed; PC Koch rushed at the attacker and put his own safety on the line to protect others. “He suffered serious injuries but

his actions undoubtedly prevented other worshippers being hurt andpotentially killed.

Exceptional work“This was an exceptional piece of

police work but is just one example ofthe countless acts of bravery anddedication displayed by officers on adaily basis across the West Midlands.”A 32-year-old man, Mahamoud Elmi,

a local resident of Somali origin, wasdetained indefinitely at a mental health facility.

An off-duty officer from Kent intervenedas shop staff tried to tackle a violentshoplifter – who then turned on her witha metal bar. PC Sarah Lewis-Perkins was shopping

with her son at a hardware store oneweekend in August last year. Havingspotted staff struggling with an aggressiveshoplifter, she left her son with a friendand went to intervene.The offender then turned his aggression

towards her, picking up a metal bar to useas a weapon before fleeing the scene. Thedogged officer then pursued him and

gained some distance before he turnedon her again, this time with a brokenbottle. He then picked up a large piece ofwood and attacked her with it. Being off-duty, she had no protective equipmentand no way of communicating with thecontrol room to summon assistance.

Harrowing situationDespite the harrowing situation, the

officer avoided the blows from the male,tackled him and brought him to the floor,where she apprehended him with thehelp of shop staff.

Officer is unarmed and off-duty as she tackles a violent shoplifter

The National Police Bravery Awards are held every year to honour the hard workand dedication of officers who put themselves before others to protect the public. Here are just two of the amazing stories behind those nominations, which willfeature in the magazine running up to the event in October.


NEWS n

National Police Memorial Day will beheld in Edinburgh this year. It will be atimely reminder of those police officerswho have lost their lives across thecountry and, particularly in Scotland,those who perished in the Clutha policehelicopter disaster.The Clutha Vaults Bar was a well-loved

landmark on a busy junction by theRiver Clyde, not far from Glasgow citycentre. It was known to Glaswegiansand many others from Scotland andbeyond as a good going bar and musicvenue. It re-opened last month.The police helicopter, the only one in

Scotland, was a common sight flyingover the city and the Scottish mediaregularly reported on the successes ofthe aircraft and its crew. Within days ofthe catastrophic crash, a replacementwas in the air.Following the sad events of 29

November 2013, it is impossible to passthe Bar or see the helicopter withoutthinking of those who lost their livesthat day or those who lost loved ones.As friends and colleagues, we willalways remember Kirsty, Tony andDavid as we remember Malcolm Herdwho lost his life in a police helicoptercrash in 1990.All on-duty deaths are terrible

reminders of the dangers anddifficulties of the job we all do. We arecalled upon to do all manner ofremarkable things to keep the publicsafe and secure, and putting ourselvesin danger is one of those things. It is attimes of tragedies such as the Glasgowpolice helicopter crashes that we arereminded of the high price some of ourcolleagues pay in doing their jobs. It ison days like this that we candemonstrate our respect.

A day to showour respect

LocalFocusBrian Docherty,chair of theScottish PoliceFederation

Bravery Awards highlight thecourageous acts of officers

As the man feigned unconsciousnessand became responsive, PC Lewis-Perkinsreacted immediately, recognising it as a potential medical emergency andadministered first aid while summoningan ambulance. The man was eventually sentenced

for theft and affray, and at the conclusionof the trial His Honour Judge Griffithsstated the officer’s actions were“extremely courageous”, and she shouldbe commended for her professionalismand bravery.

Officer is unarmed and off-duty as she tackles a violent shoplifter

PC Adam Koch (above left) and PC Jean Stevens tackled a man wielding a commando-style knife(left), who had already stabbed three worshippers at a Birminghammosque. The officers are among those nominated at this year’s Police Bravery Awards.


n NEWS

Review of deaths in custody must addressresources, access to healthcare and trainingAn independent review into deaths and serious incidents in police custodymust make sure it addresses issues in training, resources and access tohealth professionals, says the chair ofthe Federation. Theresa May, Home Secretary,

announced an independent review ofdeaths and serious incidents in policecustody last month, although full detailsare yet to be released.Steve White, chair of the Federation,

responded, to say the Federation issupportive of anything which recognisesthe difficult position police officers findthemselves in, often dealing withvulnerable people who may havemental health conditions or drug andalcohol issues.“However, any review must be more

than academic, it must bring about realchanges to training, resources andaccess to expertise 24/7. “We would hope very much that

the Police Federation of England and

Picture © Agencja Fotograficzna Caro / Alamy

The Home Secretary is greatlyconcerned about deaths in policecustody. Having done my time as acustody sergeant, I couldn’t agreemore. There are few things guaranteedto cause more angst behind the chargedesk than a detainee dying in custody.This is, of course, a serious issue

but, by the time Ms May had phrased it in her own inimitable style, aided and abetted by the likes of the DailyMail, you would think that the policeservice was slaughtering detainees with gleeful abandon. We aren’t, andwe never have.Custody staff have to deal on a regular

basis with people struggling to cope,who appear hell-bent on shuffling offthis mortal coil. Those with mentalhealth issues, drug or alcoholproblems, and often a combination ofthese. I would hazard a guess that Ms Mhas never been within spitting distanceof such situations. Ultimately we haveto put ourselves at risk to save peoplefrom themselves.That is why I welcome the news that

there is to be an independent review ofdeaths in custody. Let the world seewhat we have to deal with, and whatwe carry the can for when it all goespear-shaped. Let them consider thedearth of staffing, the slavery to processand the outlook as budgets aremassacred even more.Then let them show where the blame

really lies; at the door of thoseapparatchiks in the Home Office whoare destroying us.

Highlighting thechallenges ofpolice custody

TheStationSergeantis...

Follow me on Twitter @stationsarge

Custody officers’ powers protected in new guidance on how forces deal with incidentsThe Federation has made sure custodyofficers’ powers to close down unsafesuites are protected in interim guidanceon detention and custody. The College of Policing has published its

interim Authorised Professional Practice(APP), which sets out policies andprocedures for forces to report, record,investigate and analyse all incidentsinvolving those in custody.The Federation worked hard to ensure

custody officers still have the authority toshut a custody suite if, for example,staffing levels are not adequate for theamount of detainees. “We did not want the rights of custody

sergeants watered down because theyhave to take responsibility and makedecisions for the safe operation of

custody suites,” said Andy Ward, aFederation lead on custody issues. Theyhave advocated more consistency inareas like first aid training between policeofficers and staff and those who havebeen brought in to work in custody. The College of Policing’s lead for

crime and criminal justice, David Tucker,said: “It is the job of custody officers and staff not only to ensure that thedetention process is lawful andproportionate but also to keep detaineessafe. Staff do a superb and effective job under what are often extremelychallenging circumstances on the vastmajority of occasions. However, as theprofessional body for policing, thecollege’s role is to improve standards and establish a national framework so all


NEWS n

Review of deaths in custody must addressresources, access to healthcare and training

Wales is front and centre in this work,” he said. According to statistics from the

Independent Police ComplaintsCommission, published last month, the number of deaths in or followingpolice custody has increased to 17annually, similar to the levels seen inthe previous five years following the 11-year low of 11 deaths last year.Announcing the review last month Ms

May said: “Police custody is the place

where a number of dynamics meet. It isthe place where dangerous and difficultcriminals are rightly locked-up, whereofficers and staff regularly face violent,threatening and abusive behaviour, andwhere the police use some of their mostsensitive and coercive powers.

Vulnerable people“But it is also a place where all too

often vulnerable people, often thosewith mental health problems, are takenbecause there is no other place to go.”She added that deaths and serious

incidents in custody are rare but canimpact on the relationship between thepolice and public. “No one – least of all police officers –

wants such incidents to happen, and Iknow everyone involved takes steps toavoid them. But when such incidents dooccur, every single one represents afailure, and has the potential toundermine dramatically the relationshipbetween the public and the police.”

Picture © Mark Harvey / Alamy

“No one – least of all policeofficers – wants suchincidents to happen... Butwhen incidents occur,every single one representsa failure, and has thepotential to undermine therelationship between thepublic and the police.”

Custody officers’ powers protected in new guidance on how forces deal with incidents

forces have a consistent approach todetention and custody.“Our APP sets out clear policies and

procedures… It provides guidance on

each step of the process, from arrestthrough to detention, including the use ofrestraint, through to monitoring of thosedetained to ensure their wellbeing.”

He points out that those who come into custody and are under the influenceof drugs and alcohol are at greater risk of harm.“Custody officers are not doctors, but

there are procedures in place to ensuredetainees are subject to a detailed riskassessment, including close questioningof the detainee about their physical andmental health, and those with healthneeds are closely monitored. Ourguidance makes it clear that any healthconcern must be addressed immediately.We are also leading a review of thetraining officers receive in dealing withthose with mental health concerns.”See more at www.college.police.uk/News/

College-news/Pages/ New_national _guidance_on_detention_and_custody.aspx

Many of thosetaken into custodyare vulnerablepeople withmental healthconditions or drugand alcoholissues, warnedSteve White

The Federation has fought hard tosafeguard custody officers’ powers


NEWS n

Memorial Day will give specialrecognition to crash victimsThis year police officers who have madethe ultimate sacrifice will be rememberedat a ceremony being held in Scotland. The 12th National Police Memorial Day

will be held on Sunday, September 27 inEdinburgh, and will bring togetherfamilies, colleagues and friends of thosewho have died on duty.Police officers from England, Wales and

Scotland will be honoured during aceremony at the Edinburgh InternationalConference Centre.The event is supported by the Police

Federation and Police Mutual, and wasset up by Kent officer sergeant JoeHolness. He said: “I am immensely proudto lead National Police Memorial Day incommemoration of our fallen colleagues.“This special day gives us the

opportunity to come together as a nationto remember our loved ones, friends andcolleagues who have made the ultimatesacrifice while protecting thecommunities they served. It is anhonourable day and a poignant reminderof the dangerous nature of policing.”This year the event will include a special

honour to those who died in the policehelicopter crash at the Clutha Vaults Barin Glasgow. For more information, visit:

www.nationalpolicememorialday.org.Picture © Peter Anderson

Picture © Danny Lawson / PA Photos

(top) Flag bearers at last year’s National Police Memorial Day, and theClutha Vaults Bar, which reopened in July, 20 months after the crash

n NEWS


Police officers and their families arebenefiting from the Federation’s WelfareSupport Programme (WSP) threemonths after its launch.The WSP helpline went live on June 1

and is proving to be a life-line to officersand their families who have foundthemselves having to cope with serioustrauma in the course of their duties or asa result of a death of an officer. Officersfrom eight forces have already been intouch with the programme.Richie Jones, one of the Federation’s

leads on the programme said: “The WSP was established as a direct result of some officers not knowing where to turn to in times of crises. Policeofficers are expected to cope in extremecircumstances and step in to help others but there are times when theytoo need to seek support – they are not invincible. Crucially, the supportprovided by the WSP is also extended toofficers’ families.”Those already registered with the

programme are receiving counsellingand support to help deal with a range ofdifficulties, including bereavement,conduct and performance issues.John Murphy, who also leads on the

programme for the Federation said:“Health and wellbeing concerns in theservice are on the rise as a direct resultof the strains and stresses of the job.

You can see it tipping and the WSPprogramme has been put in place tohelp redress the balance.”Support is afforded by a team of

trained professionals who have abackground in policing. They are trainedin mental health first aid, suicideawareness, and post-incidentprocedures. The team includes threeNeuro Linguistic Programmingpractitioners, a hypnotherapist and abereavement counsellor.

Level of trustMark Williams, chief executive of the

Police Firearms Officers’ Association(PFOA) said: “Above all else, we wantofficers to have faith in the programmeand have the confidence to reach out.The independent nature of the servicewe provide helps to evoke a level oftrust which is what people need intesting times. If people on theprogramme need to talk to someone at3am, we are here and we can help.”The programme is available for officers

and their families 24 hours a day, 365days a year. Each force has a first pointof contact in their local federation whocan refer officers to the programme.More information is available on

the Federation’s website, at polfed.org/ fedatwork/Welfare_Support_Programme.aspx

Officers benefiting from newWelfare Support Programme

Picture © Burlingham / Shutterstock

This column follows on from the firstpart of an article on Limited Dutiespublished in the July edition of Police

A further new category of ‘AdjustedDuties’ has also been introduced. Thisis intended for officers who have failedto recover to full duties following aperiod of recuperation or haveotherwise been found to be unfit to befully deployed. To be placed onAdjusted Duties it is necessary for anofficer to be attending work on aregular basis, and working their fullhours for which they are paid. Theymust also be working in a substantivepolice officer’s role.Many officers currently on restricted

duties have been given roles that maywell fall short of this requirement.Likewise those currently on restrictedduties who are paid for full hours butwork reduced hours will experiencedifficulty continuing with their current arrangements.Officers on Adjusted Duties will have

their position reviewed after 12 monthsand a decision is then made as towhether their pay should be reduced to reflect the fact they are not fullydeployable. Officers may lose up toeight per cent of their basic pay if theyremain on adjusted duties.Many injured or unwell officers will

now find themselves being consideredfor medical retirement or having theirservice otherwise terminated if they areunable to resume to full duties within afew months. Even those who are ableto stay on for longer in an adjustedduties post may find that they will onlybe able to do so by reducing their paidhours. Such officers are likely to havetheir basic pay reduced, usually after 12 months of such duties, and theircontinued service will remain a matterof periodic review.

Limited Dutiespart 2

ADVERTORIAL

Richard GeraghtyT: 0808 175 7805W: slatergordon.co.uk/policelaw

The Federation’s Welfare SupportProgramme is available 24 hoursa day, 365 days a year

Picture © albund


Second World War veterans, many inwheelchairs, were accompanied byfriends, family and in some cases policeofficers as they walked or were pushedalong Whitehall as part of the parade tomark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day.The event to commemorate the efforts

of those who fought against Japaneseforces in the far east began with achurch service in St Martin-in-the-Fields,attended by Queen Elizabeth II and theDuke of Edinburgh.The service was followed by a

commemorative event at Horse GuardsParade, with a fly past of Second WorldWar planes including a Spitfire,Hurricane and Dakota. Veterans andcivilian internees were then joined by their descendants and families,along with current personnel, in aparade along Whitehall and throughParliament Square to WestminsterAbbey, for a reception hosted by theRoyal British Legion.Men and women from all over the

British Empire and Commonwealthmade a vital contribution to the Alliedvictory over Japan. Nearly 2.5 millionmen served in the all-volunteer IndianArmy and a further 60,000 in the RoyalIndian Navy and Indian Air Force;100,000 men from Britain fought inBurma, as did 119,000 soldiers from herEast and West African colonies.The VJ Day anniversary events took

place amid tight security, just days aftera number of reports in the media thatan alleged terror plot to target theQueen at the event had been foiled.

Photograph: Steve Parkins / New Zulu / PA Images

Officers escort VJ Day veterans in 70th anniversary celebrations

n THE BIGGER PICTURE

August 2015 POLICE 15www.polfed.org

THE BIGGER PICTURE n


n FEATURES

It may be called The Leadership Review, but thelatest examination and assessment of Britishpolicing carried out by the College of Policingtakes a much wider view of the service than justleadership. It looks at the whole structure ofpolicing and asks some challenging questionsabout the need for ranks, the increasingspecialisation of policing and a reward structurewhich would focus on skills rather than ranks – opening up the possibility that in future all roles could be open to police staff and officers or ‘police practitioners’.It also examines police culture and debates

the development of senior leadership, direct entry points into the service which effectivelyleap-frog ranks, and even the historic concept ofthe Office of Constable, a key foundation block for modern policing. The Police Federation is examining the

review in detail, looking at each of the tenrecommendations which cover the areas ofculture, hierarchy, lateral development, diversity,consistency, and management and leadership (see p21), and the impact they may have. But theOffice of Constable is something the Federationhas long campaigned on as the ‘bedrock’ ofmodern policing. It enables police officers tooperate independently, and operate within and beaccountable to the rule of law – not as an agent oftheir force or the government. It underpinspolicing by consent in this country, as outlined byRobert Peel himself, so officers cannot be forced tocarry out the bidding of politicians.Andy Fittes, general secretary of the Police

Federation of England and Wales, said: “Policing in England and Wales is changing; police numberscontinue to fall, yet the varied demands placed on officers are increasing. It is therefore importantthat, as a service, we look at what we do now, how we do it and what we can continue to do in the future. “The Leadership Review is but one vehicle for

these discussions and that is why we will besending the College Of Policing a full andconsidered response to the report, followingconsultation with our national committees.

The quiet policing revolution The British police service faces a potentially huge shake-up as budgets are cut, prioritieschange, and forces look for new ways to deliver policing. The College of Policing has setout a number of recommendations which could transform the British policing model aswe know it and possibly even spell the end of the traditional Bobby. Syreeta Lund writes


FEATURES n

Pictures © Smikeymikey1 / Shutterstock, VladimirFloyd / iStockphoto


As servants ofthe crown – ratherthan employees ofgovernment or chiefconstables – officersare governed by PoliceRegulations rather thanemployment contracts

“We need an honest conversation about thefuture of policing. It’s essential that this is an open and clear conversation with the public too,about what the changes are and how they mayimpact on them, and about the service theyreceive and who they may receive it from in future. While we will support change that is for the public good, we will fight any attempt to use the Leadership Review as a back door toimplement detrimental changes for police officersor create a service that undervalues theindependent Office of Constable.”The Federation has raised awareness of the

importance of the Office of Constable and theneed for a mechanism to keep the struggle forcontrol and power in balance. One such examplewas the government targets given to police forcesin relation to specific crimes, which put pressureon police chiefs and officers to take particulardecisions, and took away the independence anddiscretion of the Office of Constable – resulting indecisions being taken in order to hit targets ratherthan necessarily for the public good.Sara Thornton, chair of the National Police

Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), gave a speech at the PoliceFoundation’s annual John Harris Memorial Lecturein July, arguing that the twin challenges ofchanging requirements and cost pressures meanchief officers have to think “imaginatively andradically about policing”. This will mean bettertargeting services to demand, a commitment to evidence-based policing, further integration

FEATURES n

“We need an honest conversationabout the future of policing. It’sessential that this is an open andclear conversation with the publictoo, about what the changes howthey may impact on them, theservice they receive and who theymay receive it from in future.”

“The Leadership Review raises many issues for consideration, including fundamental changesto the rank structure; the possibility of giving theOffice of Constable powers to police staff andothers; and a greater rollout of direct entry. These are concepts that may not necessarily seem to be of immediate concern for the public,who understandably just want a police responsewhen they need it. But a pick and mix approach to policing, changing the way the service isstructured and delivered, without proper anddetailed consideration of the consequences, mayirrevocably change policing in England and Wales.

with other organisations and a constant emphasison legitimacy. “Very different workforce skills anda change to leadership culture will be needed,”she added.Recommendations in the review refer to the

need for “flexibility” in the workforce, to reviewthe current rank and grading structures, and recognition and reward for ‘advancedpractitioners’ including both police officers andpolice staff.A spokesperson for the College said: “Policing

is delivered by both officers and staff. Policepractitioner is simply a term that recognises thisreality. There are many different roles acrosspolicing, and these roles are filled by officers and staff. Rather than a merging of skills, the Leadership Review notes that policing isbecoming increasingly specialised. This is whyRecommendation 7 is to make an assessment of specialist and advanced practitioner roleswhich could be filled by officers or staff in thefuture, and the powers and authorities that limitsuch flexibility.”This rhetoric around fundamental change is

echoed across many senior leaders in the service.Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, commissioner of theMet, spoke at the Royal Society of the Arts inMarch stating that there would need to be “radicalchanges” to policing.

Pictures © Michael Matthews / Alamy


FEATURES n

In his speech, which addressed budget cuts andhow forces manage resources, Sir Bernard spokeabout the changing complexities faced by policing.“We need to think hard about the Office ofConstable and how we modernise that to meet theneeds of the 21st century policing,” he said.Although he stated he supported the principle

of officers being accountable in this way he saidthere was an issue with employment contracts:“As servants of the Crown, our relationship with our officers is governed by Police Regulations, not employment contracts. In my view, these Regulations are increasinglyunhelpful and stand in the way of thetransformation policing urgently requires.”Police Regulations essentially control police

officers terms and conditions, as officers areCrown Servants, not employees. This affords themmore protection in austerity than many in thepublic sector – meaning that chief constablescannot simply dispose of their services easily. TheRegulations also mean police officers are boundby a whole host of other restrictions on theirprivate lives, including preventing them fromtaking industrial action, a basic right foremployees under normal employment contracts.For more information on the Leadership Review,

visit: www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/Development/Promotion/the-leadership-review/Pages/The-Leadership-Review.asp

What do you think?Email [email protected] or @SyreetaLund

The review questions how important the concept of the Office of Constable is in future. It states: “The Office of Constable is animportant concept in policing. It is a concept open to interpretation but captures the independence of the role and the importanceof impartiality and accountability. It is underpinned by a regulatory framework.“While important, it is not unique. Other professions have principles of impartiality or independence in their decision making

based on knowledge and expertise, supported by legal protections afforded by employment law. Our recommendations do notpropose removing the key principles or protections afforded under the law, but as police practitioners are drawn from a broaderrange of backgrounds, we see the concept of Office of Constable increasingly applied to police staff and others exercising powers.Some contributors to this review questioned the status of the Office of Constable in a future police workforce and we encourage acontinuing debate about this as policing develops as a profession.”

n Recommendation 1: Existing police leaders should influence and drive the required culture change by demonstrating their own commitment to personal development and supporting the implementation of the review.

n Recommendation 2: Review the rank and grading structures in policing across warranted and staff roles.

n Recommendation 3: Embed the values articulated in the principles from the Code of Ethics in all local and national selection processes.

n Recommendation 4: Provide a structure for entry, exit andre-entry points to allow for career flexibility.

n Recommendation 5: Advertise all vacancies for recruitment and promotion nationally.

n Recommendation 6: Create a new model of leadership and management training and development which is accessible to all within policing.

n Recommendation 7: Increase flexibility in assigning powers and legal authorities to staff.

n Recommendation 8: Develop career opportunities which allow recognition and reward for advanced practitioners.

n Recommendation 9: Introduce national standards for recruitment and promotion into all ranks and grades.

n Recommendation 10: The Home Office should review whether existing structures, powers and authorities in policing are sufficient to support consistent implementation of these recommendations

The Leadership Review explores theidea of giving the Office of Constablepowers to police staff and others

Pictures © Brian Harris / Alamy


I need a hero… or not?In raising the issue of moving away from a ‘heroic’ leadership style, the College ofPolicing’s Leadership Review is tapping into a growing trend. The shortcomings of over-blown hero leaders have been in question for some time in the field of leadershipdevelopment. Author on the subject Mark McKergow writes

n FEATURES

Nobody disputes the need for command andauthority, particularly when short-term crisesnecessitate rapid changes of plan. The questionmight be better phrased as: “Where does thisauthority come from?” Clearly leaders need to playa key role in building success in their organisations– but is that role to do with trumpeting their ownexpertise and hard work, or is it more connectedto their abilities to engage others and providesettings where all can contribute and learn? The Leadership Review states that a new model

could be one “in which leaders are there to ensurethe success of their teams”. One such modelemerging in recent years is the metaphor ofleading as a host.A host, according to the dictionary definition, is

someone who receives or entertains guests. Wehave all been hosts – inviting friends around for ameal, organising a party, and so on. The art of thehost looks everyday and mundane, but is in factrather complex. Hosts both take responsibility fortheir guests in terms of ensuring their safety andprotection, and serve them and see that they havewhat they need. This position of ‘both above andbelow’ the others sounds paradoxical – but we all,at some level, know how to do it. And we can learnto do it better.Think of yourself as a host for a moment. You’re

inviting people around for a party – what do youneed to do? Think about what kind of party it is,then who to invite. Set up a space which will beconducive to the vibe you want (there is little to begained by having a beach party in a room full ofGeorgian dining furniture!). Welcome people in, letthem know the house rules, and introduce them toothers where they may have a connection. Andfinally join in – hosts are part of their events aswell as leading them.Over the past decade, it has become clear that

thinking like a host offers a real option for leaderswho want to move the emphasis of their workonto engaging with those around them. A simpleway to look at the comparison with heroicleadership is in the table opposite. Notice that the host is not at all an idle

bystander. They have a great deal of influence –what’s the agenda, who gets invited, how things

Host leaders – those who act as a connector of people and ideas, respond to crises,and build decisions without hogging the limelight – are increasingly seen as moreeffective than heroic leaders, says Mark McKergow


FEATURES n

Illustration © Corammax / Shutterstock

Mark McKergow is a consultant and speaker, and isthe co-author of Host: Six new rules roles ofengagement for teams, organisations, communitiesand movements (Solutions Books, 2014).

Hero leader Host leaderWants all the Knows the peopleinformation (with the information)

Acts as an Acts as connector of information filter people and ideas

Takes the decisions Builds the decisions

Has a master plan to Develops next steps,save the day responds to results

All about the leader All about the ‘guests’ (others)

Leads by example Leads by example

progress. They are seen as responsible andaccountable – in a slightly different way to thehero – for finding priorities, engaging the rightpeople, helping the process along and (in the end)being part of the outcomes and next steps.Returning to command and authority, by taking

the time and trouble to do their part well, the hostleader is not only engaging the know-how andskills of their teams, they are building andconsolidating a position of leadership and respect.

Not hogging the limelightThe key in host leadership, as in hosting a party,

is to make sure things happen while not hoggingthe limelight. From time to time you will want tostep forward, but much of your time is spend outof the spotlight, meeting and greeting others,taking a look at how things are going, and workingon providing the next ‘course’ or priority.Hosts also have to be responsive to what

happens. If there are crises (and there will be),everyone looks to the host to sort it out. This iswhen the command and authority developed overtime can come into play, when a few firm wordsand actions can move things along and set mindsat rest that normal service will be resumed shortly.Of course, a good host leader will look to reducethe number of crises, rather than take them asopportunities to shine.A final word about ‘leading by example’: this is a

key trait in effective leaders of all kinds – you getwhat you do, rather than what you talk about.Host leaders can lead by example just as well asany other – the question is what kind of exampleyou wish to set. Suppose those around you areyour guests – what would you do next?


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This is one show thatreally shouldn’t go on

View from theSidelines

New regulations introduced on May 1 mean that allpolice forces have to hold misconduct and specialcase hearings in public. The Home Secretary wantedthese changes, “to increase transparency,accountability and public confidence”.There has always been the facility for

complainants and other interested parties to

I suspect that the senior manager at Force HQmay have been sat a little too close to theradiator to have come up with that decision.I have been giving some thought as to how

much further into an abyss of crassness therunning of misconduct hearings might descend?For a starter what about an MC or host? PerhapsJeremy Kyle?Whatever disciplinary offence an officer may

have committed they are still entitled to ahearing that ensures they are treated in adignified manner.

Nick O’Time Colin Whittock

You can follow me on Twitter @MrCliveC

n SIDELINES

Clive Chamberlain,former chair of DorsetPolice Federation I suspect that

the seniormanager atForce HQ mayhave been sata little tooclose to theradiator tohave comeup with thatdecision.

Could this be the venue for thenext round of West MidlandsPolice misconduct hearings?

Picture © Pavle L / Shuttterstockattend a hearing and the outcomes

published, but this was not good enoughfor the Home Office and it appears thatthere could be a danger in some forcesthat it almost becomes a public spectacle.

Comedy showWest Midlands Police had used an online

events service to allocate tickets. Thisseemed to me to be like allotting ticketsfor a pop concert or comedy show.Thankfully, discussions between the

force and West Midlands Police Federationresulted in the move being put instantlyunder review. But it does not paint a great picture of the future for these public hearings.


SUDOKU n

pthe police feoderation of englland & walies ce ... · former chair of dorset police...

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