Q & A with Tom Gent, the new Secretary of Avon and Somerset Police Federation.

29 November 2024

Tom Gent is the new Secretary of Avon and Somerset Police Federation.

Q: Tell us a bit about your policing career.

A: I’ve been an officer for nearly 20 years, all in uniform, in a mix of response and neighbourhood roles. I spent 10 years as a PC, a few years as a Sergeant and a few years as an Inspector, which has given me a good overview of the force.

Q: When and why did you first become an Avon and Somerset Police Federation Rep?

A: I became a Fed Rep around 10 years ago. I realised that we needed to support each other, because the force wasn’t always there to support you. It’s important that there’s somewhere else to go for officers when they need help. I also had some ideas of how the Federation could be better, and I believe that if you want to change things you need to get involved, rather than complain from the sidelines. But the main thing was that I wanted to help fellow officers.

Q: Why did you put yourself forward for the Secretary role?

A: I could see that there’s more we can do as a Federation, and I wanted to ensure that we engage with officers and listen to what our members are saying. I also wanted to get more involved so we could influence the force where we can, for the benefit of our members.

Q: What are you hoping to achieve in your new role?

A: I’m hoping to help build a strong local Federation and I plan to get out and about to speak to officers. I want us to share what we’re working on, communicate with officers and let them know that we’re here to support them.