Received: 19 February 2025

Question 1: I was wondering if you could clarify for me the following; whether the Met Federation offers legal representation and support for Met officers/staff when facing Employment Tribunal hearing or any appeal arising from such?

Question 2: Or, any legal representation or support for Met officers/staff when facing a gross misconduct hearing?

Question 3: Are the Met Fed legal representations/support available for all officers, whether probationary or not?

Question 4: Do you know whether all Police Federation offer the same services throughout the country?

Responded: 26 March 2025

Response 1: The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is a staff association for the ranks of Constable through to Inspector.  Therefore, it offers support to officers holding those ranks but not support for staff who do not carry the relevant rank.

If an officer makes an application for funding the application will be considered and, if it meets the funding criteria, will be taken forward.

Response 2: Please see the response to question 1.

Response 3: In their probationary period, officers get a number of weeks cover from the PFEW for free (this may vary across branches).  Following this, they must be a subscribing member of the PFEW to be able to access free legal advice or support.  Probationary officers with the Metropolitan Police Federation receive free Group Insurance, Regulation 28 insurance and travel insurance for the first 32 weeks.  Their PFEW subscriptions are at 50% discount for the first 12 months.

Response 4: We have interpreted that by "services" the requester is concerned with funding for claims.  The PFEW's funding rules apply to all Federations in England and Wales and, therefore, if an application meets the funding rules then funding can be provided to the member.