Tom Arthur is the new Secretary of Surrey Police Federation.

1 July 2021

Tom – who takes over the role from Paul Campbell from today (1 July) - said one of his aims is to increase the use of the Reflective Practice Review Process (RPRP) for officers when mistakes are made at work.

Reflective practice is designed to give officers and line managers an opportunity to discuss where things have gone wrong and look for ways of addressing issues, before things get to disciplinary levels.

Tom said he believes reflective practice is still “vastly underused” but that it could help officers learn from their mistakes.

Tom said: “We want to make sure that our own PSD utilise the new Police Regulations around reflective practice, which I think is something which is still vastly underused. And to try and promote the idea of education for officers who, like any other human being, make mistakes occasionally.

“Police officers are just a reflection of the public. Members of the public make mistakes, and we are no different. We all make mistakes and as long as the officer has made them with good intentions and has not gone across misconduct levels, then education and reflective practice can take place and the officer can come out of it with a better understanding of procedures, re-learning something they maybe forgot and needed refreshed, and the force doesn’t waste the time going down disciplinary levels unnecessarily.”

Tom has taken on the role of Secretary after nine years of being a Federation Representative. Previously Deputy Chair, he has worked in equality and diversity and more recently in conduct. He has served at Surrey Police for 21 years as a PC in operational work, neighbourhoods and traffic.

Tom said that officers often don’t realise how important the Federation is until they need it. He added: “We have about 25 Representatives working across the force and they get involved from advice through to just being able to listen to officers, to having to represent them at certain stages.

“Really we’re there more as a safety net for the officers sometimes trying to influence, trying to voice their opinions, and to check obviously that procedures are being done in the right way.

“I would urge officers to use the Federation when you want to use us. We’re there for advice as well as everything else. Don’t wait until something goes too far before contacting us, that’s what we’re here for.”