Christmas and New Year Message from Andy Berry, Chair of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation

23 December 2021

Christmas and New Year Message from Andy Berry, Chair of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation.

It’s been a crazy year and officers across Devon and Cornwall are desperate for a Christmas break, but of course policing doesn’t stop! 

2021 has been one of our busiest years with massive deployments to Cornwall for the G7 summit, to Glasgow for COP26, policing Euro 2020, an ultra-busy summer and an unrelenting deluge of crime and incidents and all of course on top of policing the pandemic! 

In the face of this extraordinary year the police officers of Devon & Cornwall have without hesitation delivered like never before.

This Christmas I am hoping for some amazing presents; A fair pay settlement for police officers, the pension mess sorted so the new discriminations created by the Government are fixed and even the ability for officers to know what their pension will be… 

Most of all though I hope that all my colleagues who are working over this holiday season remain safe, that at the end of every shift they go home in one piece and that they will get some time to celebrate in whatever way they choose. And of course with the sad news of the death of our colleague, PC Duncan McIntyre, from COVID just this week I pray that we do not lose another of our police family to COVID or anything else. Our thoughts remain with Duncan’s family, friends and close colleagues at this time.

So to my members and police staff colleagues I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and I promise that my New Year’s resolution will be to work even harder to get the best outcomes for my members. 

To everyone else I also hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and I implore you to take a moment to be kind to a cops and other emergency worker working over this festive period.  They give up time with their loved ones so they can keep you all safe, so a smile, a wave, a thank you or even a cup of tea can make it all worth while.

Andy Berry
Chair
Devon and Cornwall Police Federation