As the year comes to an end, Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence reflects on a busy 2025, looks ahead to future policing developments, and sends members a message of thanks.

 

“2025 has been a really busy year within the police service. We have seen a number of changes, not only at a national level, but also locally. And to end the year, the Government has announced a white paper on police reform, which may discuss mergers of forces. Naturally, officers will wonder how that will affect them moving forward, and we will continue to communicate all important developments.

 

“My hope for 2026 is that the Government will start listening properly to the police service and that, on some level, humanity comes back into policing. At the moment, there is a feeling that there is a lot of take from officers, and there isn't much give. There isn't the respect for officers that there once was – everything is demanded of officers, but there is no nothing there to recognise their hard work and reward them. That leaves officers feeling very devalued.

 

“In Leicestershire Police Federation, our key priorities are making sure that police officers have got the right leave, the right pay, the right conditions. We constantly campaign on that, and that covers all sorts of areas, down to ensuring that the force is following regulations. It also means that when officers are under investigation, those investigations are timely, and it follows that when officers are going through difficult times, we look after their welfare as best as we can.

 

“The highlight of our year as a Federation is recognising the bravery of PC Jack Milman and PC Tom McGrath, who won the Eastern region award at the National Police Bravery Awards. Jack and Tom saved a woman's life, as well as disarming a knifeman, in the space of a few minutes. They are worthy winners of the award, and their story embodies the courageous things officers do, day in and day out. And in the face of all of that, they come back to work and are incredibly humble, saying they were just doing their job.

 

“My Christmas message to members is: thank you. You've worked so hard over this past year. Every day, you go out there and you protect the vulnerable, you face violence on an ever-growing scale, and you come to work under increasing pressure, with phones shoved in your face, facing torrid abuse, and you do it all to protect people.

 

“We really appreciate everything that you do. We will continue to raise your concerns, voice the worries that you have, and represent you to the best of our abilities. For those of you working over the Christmas period, look after each other and be safe.”