Concerns of frontline officers raised with MS

28 September 2021

Police Federation Welsh lead Nicky Ryan has met Alun Davies, the Labour Member of the Senedd (MS) for Blaenau Gwent, to discuss some of the issues facing frontline officers.

The online discussion was part of Nicky’s ongoing meetings with politicians in Wales and covered a wide range of topics including Covid-19 vaccine boosters, local policing, and officers being despatched to medical emergencies.

The meeting also included Bernadette Richards, the secretary of Blaenau Gwent Constituency Labour Party.

It follows Nicky’s earlier discussions with North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, Pontypridd MS Mick Antoniw, who is Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, Andrew R. T. Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd, and Samuel Kurtz, the Conservative MS for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

Nicky followed up a question that Mr Davies raised in the Senedd Plenary earlier this month around the availability and distribution of defibrillators by raising the issue of officers being called to medical emergencies.

She said: “I took this opportunity to raise that while this was a fantastic life-saving initiative, officers are giving CPR and first aid support more frequently than ever before, or even being despatched to a medical emergency. 

“While it is right that officers work to preserve and maintain life, they need the support of the Welsh Ambulance Service attendance to ensure that the best care is given, by the correct agency to the individual and this is currently problematic.”

As invitations start to be sent out this week to people who are eligible for a third coronavirus vaccine dose, the issue of boosters for officers was raised in the discussion.

Nicky said: “Mr Davies was fully supportive of officers receiving priority for spare vaccines. He felt this was a common-sense approach to ensure frontline staff were protected and, subsequently, the wider community.”

The discussions covered priority NHS treatment for officers hurt in the line of duty.

“Mr Davies personally had support and sympathy for officers around suggestions for priority NHS treatment for those who are injured in the execution of their duty,” said Nicky, “But he said that other parties who are involved in the decision-making would find it difficult to support any priority for treatment on any basis other than clinical need.

“He said that it would be difficult to argue that one profession would be more important than another.”

They also discussed the police watchdog’s recent report into the policing response to violence against women and girls. It found that a new cross-system approach was needed to end what it called an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

“I very much welcome the suggestion of a stronger partnership approach, particularly around accountability of other agencies for their decision-making,” Nicky explained.

Nicky briefed Mr Davies on elements of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Federation representatives, including Nicky, Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) conduct and performance lead Phill Matthews and Tiff Lynch, Parliamentary sub-committee secretary, met members of the House of Lords at New Scotland Yard earlier this month to press for three amendments to the bill.

Nicky updated Mr Davies on the bill and covered the Federation’s Time Limits campaign through which it is campaigning for police disciplinary investigations to be concluded within 12 months from the moment an allegation is made.

The Federation is proposing legislation which would give legally qualified persons power to impose deadlines on investigations which have dragged on for a year.

The bill also includes the provision for Special Constables to formally join the Police Federation after years of PFEW campaigning.

Nicky said: “It means Special Constables will get the same legal protection and support as regular officers as members of the Police Federation. Specials carry a warrant card and carry the same risk as regular officers, so it’s only right they have access to that support.”

In addition, the meeting with Mr Davies covered local and community policing.

“Mr Davies and Bernadette reference their strong relationship with their local policing area,” said Nicky, “They regularly meet with Insp Shane Underwood and Sgt Neil Pigeon to address matters of concern. This is a two-way conversation.

“He also spoke of his strong working relationship with Chief Constable Pam Kelly and Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert as well as his support for the maintenance of resources locally.”