Paul Crowley is new Chair of Cleveland Police Federation

31 January 2024

The new Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, Paul Crowley, is a “big advocate of fairness”, and his first goal is to listen to officers and amplify their voices within the force and beyond.

Paul became a Federation Rep nearly three years ago because he wanted to see things get fairer for officers. He said: “The reason I got involved with the Federation was because I’m a big advocate of fairness, and over the years I started seeing things that I thought were a bit of an erosion of the rules and Police Regulations. I thought I’d stand up and be counted and start advocating on behalf of the workforce.

“In September 2022, I took over as the Federation’s Conduct and Performance Lead and Treasurer. So for just over a year now I’ve represented officers in all matters involving conduct and performance, in hearings and meetings.

“I’m very proud to become the Chair, as it’s taking my role one step further. I can take what I’ve learned about advocacy and representing people, and do that on a more public stage. I can work on other matters as well: welfare, equality, health and safety, everything that involves the workforce. And not only that, but take that directly to the executives.”

Paul joined the Metropolitan Police in 2005 and transferred to Cleveland Police in 2015, working in mainly uniformed roles. He’s worked in Cleveland’s specialist public order unit, now known as the Tactical Disruption Team, and has been a public order instructor, Taser instructor, public order tactical advisor and personal safety instructor.

He said: “My first goal as Federation Chair is to listen to our members. To go out and hear what our workforce needs and wants, and to make sure that their voices are not just heard, but valued.

“Once I’ve taken that on board, my other goal is to be the voice of the people. It’s quite easy within policing for officers’ voices to be lost among the crowd, but I want them to be brought to the forefront.

“I want the problems that police officers are facing to be brought to the attention of the executives, the PCC and the Home Office, to ensure that they get fairness across the board. Whether that’s fairness during advocacy for conduct and performance, fairness through diversity and equality, or fairness in relation to the needs of the workforce.

“My message to members is: my door’s always open. If I’m not in the office, I will be in the police stations and I will be approachable. Don’t feel like you can’t speak to us. The more information that we get about what’s happening, the better we can make things for you and for the force, and ultimately for the communities that we serve.”