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19 December 2024
Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell says he wants to ensure the voices of members are heard at a pivotal time for the Force.
Luke met with Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Jonathan Ash-Edwards to discuss a range of issues that will affect members, including the recruitment of a new Chief Constable.
He has also met with the applicants for the Chief Constable role.
Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards.
Luke said: “We know that Hertfordshire Constabulary will see much change in the coming months.
“We have been keen to engage those at the top, with MPs, the new chief constable, and the Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Ash-Edwards, to ensure the voices of our members are heard at the very start of this process.
“We have also met with the applicants to be the new chief constable and we put across the views of our members across to them.
“They have heard first-hand what our members expect and need.”
Mr Ash-Edwards has since announced Andy Prophet as his preferred candidate.
Mr Prophet is the current Deputy Chief Constable in Essex Police and the national lead on tackling anti-social behaviour,
The final appointment will be subject to a confirmation meeting of the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Panel on 19 December 2024 as is statutorily required, as well as satisfactory vetting checks, with Mr Prophet taking up the role early in the New Year.
The meeting with Mr Ash-Edwards follows one between the Federation and David Taylor, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, to discuss policing issues.
In the discussions with Mr Ash-Edwards, Luke also raised the issue of police pay.
He said: “Pay remains a huge issue for our members. Despite the rise last year, wages continue to lag behind where they were a decade ago and I highlighted the need for pay restoration and a fair pay mechanism to allow us to recruit – and crucially retain – the best people.”
Other issues discussed included police funding, welfare support for officers, and the Right Care, Right Person scheme.
Luke said: “Right Care, Right Person is a step forward and it is freeing up time for our members, but the responsibility for assessing and triaging calls continues to remain with the police.
“We are not mental health or social care professionals and we are still being used as the service of last resort.
“That puts our members in difficult situations and takes away from our frontline capabilities, because we don’t have the capacity to do it all.”
READ MORE: Merry Christmas from Hertfordshire Police Federation.
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