A goodbye from outgoing Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor

1 June 2020

Outgoing Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor says he wants to ensure local police officers’ views and issues are heard in his new role on the Police Federation of England and Wales’s National Board.

Steve’s taken the position after four years as Essex Police Federation Chair, but he will continue to serve on the Essex Federation Council.

Part of his new role as one of 24 national board members will be to feed in regional views on issues affecting members and ensure they are used to help inform decision making at a national level.

Having been a county Chair and championed the benefits Spit Guards and Taser have brought to members, ensuring local views are magnified is an issue close to his heart.

“It’s not always easy to balance the organisation’s needs with the needs and rights of those charged with carrying out the organisation’s wishes, but the members have always been my drive, and it’s something I want to carry on a national level,” he said.

“If we don’t remember that at national then we’ve lost something.

“The board take a steer from the local so that can inform the national view,” he added.

“And thoughts, plans and ideas get percolated out through us at the national board back to the local Federations - it’s a feedback in and feedback out system.

“The secondary part of the role will be leading on specific areas and portfolios, and once I’ve found my feet, that’s what I’ll be doing.”

Steve added: “Day to day as Essex Chairman I was engaging with the local force; now it’s the Home Office or the College of Policing and more.

“It’s never been so crucial for the local voice to be heard at the centre.

“One of the criticisms levelled at the national Federation has been that it is too far removed from that local voice, so with members like me going onto the board hopefully it will invigorate that and make sure those local ties are at the heart of the PFEW.

“We can always improve, and I’m looking to bring a bit of that improvement if I can.”

Steve says he hopes he’s left Essex Police Federation in a good place and is proud of what he’s achieved as he hands over to interim Chair Laura Heggie.

His work on boosting Taser numbers, the introduction of Spit Guards and just getting the Federation and members through the ravages of austerity are on his personal highlight reel. Steve also says the launch of the Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards – currently delayed until November because of Coronavirus – will also hold a special place in his memory.

He added: “I was Chair for four years – it’s flown by -  and through that time we helped the force navigate austerity, the loss of officers and then the growing of the force, new shift patterns and operating systems. It was challenging.

“I’m particularly proud of the role we played in getting Spit Guards into the force, Protecting the Protectors and Taser. In the past four years, we’ve seen a steady growth in the number of Taser, which I know officers appreciate.

“I’m also really proud of launching the Bravery Awards - and looking forward to the inaugural event later this year.”

Mental health awareness and ‘getting it out of the shadows’ was also something Steve advocated and affected positive change in during his time as Chair.

“I’m grateful for the good relationship I had with CC Steve Kavanagh and then BJ Harrington,” he said. “That was beneficial to us, and the force and I think I leave the Federation in a better place.

“I’m sure the level of engagement and communication has improved. Laura and those around her are incredibly capable and informed, and I’ve every confidence that Essex will grow from strength to strength,” he said

“Whoever is [permanent] Chair will need a thick skin,” he half-joked, “and you can’t be all things to all people. Successes do come, but they come with hard work.”

The Federation’s new leadership team will have plenty on their to-do list to keep them busy.

“I’d have liked to have seen through the inequality around Bank Holidays and got that sorted, and they’ll be pay and conditions, compensation in different police roles and of course pensions to tackle.

“As we recover from COVID-19 policing will be challenged by another likely round of austerity too.

“Best of luck to Laura in the interim and the new Chair going forward – I’m very grateful to members who came forward with views and challenged our positions and decisions.

“It’s essential they feel they can do that, it doesn’t always lead to change, but it’s important they feel they can share their opinion. It was always listened to.”