Meet your new branch secretary: Tony Barnes

9 July 2025

The new secretary of North Yorkshire Police Federation, Tony Barnes, says he has ‘so much to give’ as he fulfils his long-term ambition within the branch.

Tony first became a workplace representative in 2012, going on to help countless members through the likes of conduct issues, equality and diversity complaints and welfare support plans.

This was always followed by a strong sense of reward for Tony, and as he got more experience under his belt, he admittedly developed a drive to become a full-time Fed rep.

“I originally joined as a Fed rep because I felt I could do my part in making a difference in the working lives of officers, by supporting them through some of the most difficult times of their service,” Tony explained.

Tony Barnes and dog Thorn.

“I wanted to put the members first – even if I had to work on my rest days and take calls while on holiday. I got such a good feeling from getting the best resolution for them, and turning something negative into a positive, or at least into a negative faced together."

Recognising that becoming a full-time Fed rep would enable him to support colleagues more regularly, this is the role he began to aspire to.

But willing to wait for the right opportunity, Tony continued to take pride in every case he dealt with on behalf of the branch, making plenty of meaningful connections with officers along the way.

In 2020, Tony then needed support himself when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Treatment

This saw him take an extended period of leave from North Yorkshire Police – and a York-based neighbourhood role at the time – which kept him out of frontline action throughout both his treatment and recovery.

During this period, he took up the full-time role of branch treasurer on a temporary basis, and while this proved to be a ‘steep learning curve’, it also gave him purpose and security in a time of real adversity.

“The Force were going to place me on half-pay, so the branch proposed that I help out in the office as treasurer, enabling me to remain on full-pay," Tony explained.

“Looking back, it was the perfect job for me at that time. It had its challenges – especially at first – but I took the responsibility of looking after our members’ money very seriously.

“When I needed it most, the Federation was there for me. The support I received was incredible, and that enabled me to eventually carry on supporting others as a rep once again.”

Secretary

And ‘helping the helpers’ is a principle that Tony says will shape his role as secretary.

There is also a sense of unfinished business for the 53-year-old, who recently returned from a six-month break from all Federation work, enforced by the increasing demands of his role in the Force’s dog unit.

“My policing career has been a brilliant one. I first joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 2002, and then moved to North Yorkshire Police in 2005, and I have enjoyed every bit of it," he explained.

“I’ve worked in the likes of neighbourhood, response, firearms and public order, and the last few years as a dog handler has been one of the highlights. I have had two police dogs – Thorn, a general-purpose Shepherd-Malinois crossbreed, and Molly, a search and drugs Cocker Spaniel.

“While Molly will be reassigned to another handler, Thorn will retire, and I will continue looking after her in a personal capacity. Working with them both has been a dream – it’s like doing a shift with your best friends.”

Fighting

The idea of companionship has always been important to Tony in policing – particularly in standing side-by-side with fellow officers, empathising with colleagues and fighting for them, on their behalf.

Central to his aims as secretary, he says, will be giving other representatives the platform to do the same.

“As I’ve mentioned, helping the helpers is important to me, and I am thrilled to be overseeing and supporting our reps in this new capacity. I will make sure no one ever feels underutilised, and everyone knows how important they are to what we want to achieve," he said.

“I am also looking forward to being part of the National Council – getting that bigger picture of Federation matters was one of the reasons I always wanted to be a full-time official.

“To be able to push the local agenda and give them a voice at a national level is a real honour.

“It’s an exciting time for our branch, and I am excited to now play a different part in it – although I know whatever I do, my dedication and hard work will always stay the same.”