Fed fighting for best outcomes for members in ongoing review

15 January 2024

The Dyfed Powys Police Federation is determined to fight to get the best outcome for members in the Force’s ongoing review into response policing.

Sergeant Gideon Eastlake has been representing the branch in the review, which aims to put more officers into frontline policing roles.

Gideon, who has more than 23 years’ experience with Dyfed Powys Police, predominately in response role said: “The Federation has been involved throughout the process, fighting for the best possible outcome for members.

“We’re bringing our experience and bringing challenge to the meetings, making sure there’s efficiencies in service and but also making sure that the voice of members is heard.”

Proposals from the review are due to be given to the Force’s chief officers on Monday (January 15).

Gideon, who came onto the review on 11 December, said the Federation has actively engaged in the process and continues to put forward fair and balanced views to assist in the decision-making process.

“Sometimes you’ve got to put your foot on the ball and stop it and reassess where you are.”

Gideon added: “The decision is down to the Force. But we’re at the table and we’ll be scrutinising the decision and asking if it’s the right one they’re making.

“It’s still an ongoing process, and we’re at the heart of it.”

Gideon explained that the review followed one of the hardest years in policing that he had experienced.

He said there has been a reduction in the number of officers on the frontline, despite the Government's Uplift programme, with some having to fulfil support staff roles.

This was compounded by the policing of protests and counter-protests outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, which was earmarked to house asylum seekers, taking even more officers away from frontline duties, he said.

“We’ve got a small frontline but because demand has significantly increased, it’s been really difficult to maintain a service to the public,” he said.

“You had Operation Cambrian, the officers who were left behind to carry out response policing having a backlog of calls, and there were issues of having no officers to go to calls and no staff to back them up.”

Gideon added: "I understand the organisation’s position. They can’t have another period where response policing is on the edge and whereby it is dangerous to our members and the public, but response policing needs to be sufficiently staffed.

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