Zara Springall has been a dedicated Lincolnshire Police Federation representative for nine years, earning the confidence of members and colleagues through her compassion, professionalism and determination to secure fair outcomes for officers.

From the beginning of her Federation journey, Zara has been passionate, enthusiastic and consistently available to those needing support. As a Branch Board member, she embraced the changes following the most recent elections and worked hard to understand how she could contribute to the Federation’s future. Her knowledge of PFEW’s priorities and her commitment to its values have made her a positive ambassador at both local and national level.

Zara has supported members through case conferences, Unsatisfactory Attendance Procedure meetings, flexible working applications and ill-health processes. Wherever possible, she seeks constructive solutions before matters progress to formal proceedings, working with members, managers and the force to address concerns fairly and at the earliest opportunity. This approach has been particularly effective when helping members apply for flexible working arrangements. Zara meets with the officer and their manager before a formal application is submitted, allowing potential issues to be discussed and giving the request the strongest possible chance of being approved. Her fair and pragmatic approach has earned her the respect of managers while delivering meaningful results for members.

As the branch’s equality lead, Zara ensures fellow representatives remain informed about important developments, including relevant news, tribunal outcomes and changes in employment practice. She created a shared resource containing useful equality materials and regularly updates it so representatives can access current information when supporting members.

Zara also leads well-prepared equality meetings and has organised specialist training for representatives in Lincolnshire and across the wider region. By inviting force HR colleagues to participate, she has helped improve knowledge, encourage constructive working relationships and strengthen the support available to officers.

Her commitment to members is perhaps most evident in her welfare work. Zara has provided sustained support to a married couple within the force as they have navigated significant health and caring challenges. Over several years, she has guided them through flexible working, redeployment and ill-health procedures, remaining a dependable source of advice throughout an exceptionally difficult period.

Despite balancing her Federation responsibilities with her demanding role as a custody sergeant, Zara makes herself available whenever members need her. She is skilled at recognising when someone may be struggling and ensures officers are directed towards appropriate services, including Occupational Health and trauma risk management support. She also regularly nominates deserving members for the branch’s welfare gift scheme, helping ensure that officers experiencing distress feel recognised and supported.

Members trust Zara because she combines empathy with honesty. She protects their confidentiality, seeks guidance without disclosing personal information and only shares details when she has the member’s express permission. She is also clear and realistic about possible outcomes, ensuring members understand both the support available and the challenges they may face.

Her willingness to help extends across the entire branch. Zara is frequently among the first to volunteer and has worked on rest days to ensure members and colleagues receive the assistance they need. When she identified concerns with force procedures relating to dependants’ leave, Zara researched the issue and sought guidance from a subject-matter expert before raising it. She then worked professionally with the branch and HR to challenge the procedures, ensuring her case was supported by the necessary knowledge and evidence.

Zara continues to invest in her own development as well as that of others. She has completed training in equality, post-incident procedures and ill-health retirement. After recognising that she wanted to strengthen her knowledge of conduct matters, she requested further training and completed the relevant course, enabling her to provide support across an even broader range of cases.

The regard in which Zara is held was demonstrated in 2025 when three colleagues separately nominated her for a force Response Policing Award in the Inspirational Leader category. The nominations recognised not only her leadership as a police officer but also the difference she has made through her Federation work.

Lincolnshire Police Federation Chair Helen Stamp said: “Zara has an instinctive ability to recognise when someone needs help and the determination to stay beside them for as long as that support is required. She does not look for the easiest answer; she takes the time to understand the individual, challenge unfairness and find a practical way forward.

“What makes Zara such an exceptional representative is the trust she inspires. Members know she will listen without judgement, protect their confidence and be honest with them at every stage. She strengthens our branch through the knowledge she shares, the standards she upholds and the care she shows to others. We are incredibly fortunate to have her representing our members.”