National Chair: Welsh voice will be heard

26 November 2020

The Welsh voice will be heard in discussions between the Federation and politicians in relation to plans for the new Police Covenant, the national Federation chair has promised.

Addressing the latest meeting of the Federation’s Welsh Affairs Sub-Committee, John Apter said he would ensure committee members’ views were heard.

Earlier during the online meeting, which was chaired by the Federation’s Welsh lead, Mark Bleasdale, the national chair said he appreciated the difficulties Welsh officers had faced when policing the borders during the pandemic due to changing, and often different, restrictions being in place in England and Wales.

“I have picked up on these difficulties when talking to officers but they have managed it well despite it being a particular challenge,” said John, “Members have really stepped up in policing this pandemic but we are now seeing that it has caused fatigue and mental health issues.”

The national chair explained the importance of the Federation’s member surveys, saying they were ‘the most respected in policing’ and added that the results of the recent demand, capacity and welfare survey would give the first indication of the impact of the pandemic on officers’ welfare.

He also gave a brief overview of the political landscape, an update on the progress with the new police driver legislation, which along with the Police Covenant, is included in the Police Powers and Protections Bill due before Parliament early next year, and informed the committee that the College of Policing was reviewing a number of key policies. 

Mark Bleasdale welcomed the national chair’s involvement in the meeting and all the issues that get discussed there.

He said: “The Welsh Affairs Sub-Committee meetings provide a chance for Federation officials across Wales to come together and discuss the issues affecting all four of the Welsh forces. We appreciate the national chair’s attendance and his commitment to ensuring the Welsh voice is heard.”

The sub-committee is also working with the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) to ensure the two staff associations can share information and Superintendent Estelle Hopkin-Davies, Welsh Reserve Seat on the National Executive Committee of the PSA.