Vote now for new national Federation chair
14 March 2022
The time has come for Police Federation members in Suffolk and the other 42 forces of England and Wales to choose the next national chair.
Everyone’s vote is important because the holder of the office will represent 139,000 rank and file police officers on the national stage, taking officers’ messages to the Government and media and advocating for better pay and working conditions.
Three contenders have put themselves forward - West Yorkshire branch chair Brian Booth, the current national vice-chair Ché Donald and Federation National Board member Steve Hartshorn.
Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris explains: “All members are eligible to vote from now until midnight on Wednesday 30 March so look out for instructions on the process which will be arriving directly on your email, and please get in touch with myself or the team if you have any questions.
“It is really important that members take the time to find out more about the candidates and then place their vote. We need a new national chair with the mandate of the membership.”
Brian, who is a sergeant, says as chair of West Yorkshire he has experience of running a large Federation and has always set the tone of “putting members first”.
He argues there is “a significant disconnect between members and the national Federation, adding that members “do not feel listened to, which begs the question, how can we profess to being the voice of rank-and-file officers?”
His four promises, if elected, are to listen to members, to get on the front foot in media, to empower the National Board to hold the executive to account, and “have fire in our bellies”.
Ché, a sergeant with Sussex Police, argues that he has the “necessary skills, experience, and relationships” to drive the Police Federation of England and Wales forward.
“As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am not afraid to speak out,” he adds, “For far too long we’ve seen a constant onslaught and criticism by politicians and media, all too quick to jump down our throats and tell us where they think we are going wrong in policing. I’m sick of just holding the line. It’s time to advance and push back at the nonsense being peddled and set the record straight.”
Steve is the Federation’s lead for firearms and Taser, and a Metropolitan Police officer since 1995. Having joined the National Board four years ago, he believes there is a lack of communication and disconnect between the membership, the National Board and the chair’s office, and promises to unify the organisation and be open to change.
“I want negotiation rights and binding arbitration that ensure policing gets a fair deal,” he says, “Police officers must be treated fairly and allowed to do our job free from party politics and a severe lack of funding.”
The new chair will take up his position on 1 April.
Find out more about the candidates:
© Copyright 2019 Police Federation All rights reserved