Nicky meets with MPs during conference

7 October 2022

The Police Uplift Programme and the provisions of the Police Covenant were just two of the subjects discussed at an engagement meeting between Police Federation officials and Conservative politicians in Birmingham for the party’s annual conference this week.

Among the Federation representatives at the meeting was Nicky Ryan, the Welsh lead, who was able to explain to MPs the need for consideration of the unique factors affecting Welsh policing with laws made at Westminster not necessarily applying in Wales.

“This is a particular concern with the Police Covenant, which aims to enshrine officer wellbeing in law. We need to ensure that provision is made for this to also protect police officers in Wales,” says Nicky.

“As well as raising this issue, we were able to explain to those present how the success of the Police Uplift Programme could be diluted by the high attrition rates we are seeing. We cannot have a continually revolving door with officers leaving out of one door as fast as new recruits come in through another.

“This was something that many of the politicians I spoke to were able to understand and I hope this will now be fed back into the Government.”

The engagement meeting in Birmingham was attended by a number of MPs including Jane Hunt (Loughborough), Bob Blackman (Harrow East), Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup), Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) and Andy Carter (Warrington South). Others in attendance included Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mould.

Alongside Nicky, the Federation delegation included national chair Steve Hartshorn and deputy chair Tiff Lynch, Steve Taylor from the Federation’s Parliamentary Working Group and Dave Bamber who leads on the Special Constabulary.

Other topics covered included the Federation’s bid for a change in the law so that police can lawfully ask drivers they stop to step outside of their vehicle as a means of reducing the number of  officers injured by motorists who make off from a police stop. There was also a discussion around the Federation’s calls for amendments to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) disclosure guidance which has left officers struggling under a huge workload. The CPS guidance, introduced last year and known as DG6, is having an huge impact on officers and staff.

Tiff explained: “Those at the meeting grasped what we were saying in terms of DG6 and Mark Eastwood in particular showed support for our campaign. All in all, the meeting was really productive, giving us the chance to have face to face engagement with MPs, explain the realities of policing and the challenges officers are facing.

“We need to forge effective relationships with MPs if we are to properly represent our members’ views and help politicians develop a deeper understanding of the pressure officers face, the ever-changing demands of policing our communities and the need for more consistent long-term funding in policing.

“The Government’s number one priority should be the safety and security of the public and policing has a massive part to play in that.”