Police Covenant discussed with Senedd member

8 October 2021

Police Federation Welsh lead Nicky Ryan discussed some of the key issues facing members during a virtual meeting with Luke Fletcher, the Plaid Cymru member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales West.

They discussed the Police Covenant, which is included in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently going through Parliament.

It follows a campaign by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) for the covenant to ensure welfare of officers, police staff and their families is placed under regular Parliamentary scrutiny.

The covenant will provide serving officers and former police personnel with long-term support and protection. It will focus on health and wellbeing, the physical protections officers need on the job and support for families.

Nicky said: “Luke was interested in the covenant and how officers were looked after when they were injured. He was particularly interested in peer support, occupational health support and support from the forces themselves.”

She outlined the work of the Police Treatment Centres, Flint House and the North West Benevolent Fund (the Ben Fund), and explained the half pay and full pay regulations when an officer was sick.

Nicky said: “I also explained that the officers who most needed to subscribe to the services were often the ones who could least afford to as they were on the lowest pay scales. This was not lost on him.”

The online meeting was Nicky’s ninth meeting in recent weeks with members of the Senedd and her first with Luke, who was elected earlier this year and was joined on the Teams meeting by his PA Phillippa Richards.

Nicky explained the structure of the Federation and how her post has evolved from the independent review of PFEW led by Sir David Normington.

“I told Luke how the pandemic had highlighted how little engagement the Senedd members had with the Police Federation,” she said, “And I’m determined to improve that.”

On the subject of the pandemic, they discussed the vaccine roll-out and frontline officers and staff not being made a priority for spare vaccines.

“Although Luke wasn’t an MS at the time of the vaccine roll-out, he’s hoping that Wales will have its own Covid inquiry so we can see what wastage occurred in relation to spare vaccines.

“He was very aware of how the police supported other services such as social services, the ambulance service and the NHS throughout the pandemic.”

Nicky briefed the MS on the role of Special Constables, the valuable work they do and the provision in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill for them to become Federation members.

“Our Special Constables do a fantastic job and contribute hugely to policing in Wales,” said Nicky. “We discussed how, Andy Dunbobbin, the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, has committed to paying the Federation subscriptions for Specials.

“That shows a real commitment to our volunteer colleagues.”

Luke spoke recently in the Senedd about the Welsh Government piloting a four-day working week. And with that in mind, the discussion covered officers’ shift patterns.

Nicky said: “I discussed the four by four shifts and the six by four shifts.  He was interested in how this worked and how it felt from a work-life balance point of view.”

They also covered the ongoing work around the Thomas Commission on Justice in Wales and the Federation’s desire to remain neutral.

“Luke, as an MS for Plaid Cymru, said he supported the devolution of policing,” Nicky said, “He also believed that welfare could be devolved and that neither issue are standalone and are linked.”