Voice of Welsh officers will be heard at Federation conference

12 May 2022

Delegates from the four Welsh forces will be present at the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Annual Conference in Manchester next week.

Along with Nicky Ryan, Federation Welsh lead, and Welsh regional reps Zac Mader and Calum Macleod, they will be contributing to the discussions in Manchester on 17 and 18 May on behalf of members and putting forward the Welsh perspective.

Mark Jones, secretary of North Wales Police Federation, will lead a session on the first day around the 20,000-officer uplift which will focus on tutoring, officer experience and retention and questioning whether the programme is delivering what it promised.

While South Wales Police Federation secretary Leigh Godfrey is taking part in a break-out session discussing ill-health retirement.

Nicky said: “Annual conference is the pivotal event in the Federation’s calendar and a chance for Fed reps from all 43 forces to get together and take stock of where policing is currently and what challenges are in the future. I’m delighted that we are meeting in person this year - for the first time since before the pandemic - and I will be taking an interest in all the debates and doing my bit to ensure that Wales’ voice is heard and understood.”

She added: “Conference is our annual shop window. It’s an opportunity for PFEW to showcase the work being done by reps on behalf of members and to highlight their concerns around pay, pensions, working conditions, mental health provision, you name it, in front of an audience of police leaders, politicians and the media.”

Fairness is the theme of this year’s Police Federation Annual Conference which will ask if police officers are getting a raw deal and what can be done about it.

The two-day showcase will be hosted by talkRADIO presenter Ian Collins and will introduce Steve Hartshorn as the national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) as well as receiving an address from a senior cabinet minister.

The winner of the Women in Policing Award will be unveiled and break-out sessions will be held on the topics of ill-health retirement, cultural awareness to avoid misconduct, trauma and mental health, mutual aid and changes in law to protect police drivers from prosecution.

Highlights of the first day will include a discussion around pay and conditions with national secretary Alex Duncan and his deputy John Partington and hosted by leading journalist George Pascoe-Watson.

On day two the fairness theme will delve into misconduct, with Phill Matthews from the Federation National Board making the case for reform. Another session involving Assistant Met Commissioner Nick Ephgrave and Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill will debate whether Crown Prosecution Service guidance is placing an unnecessary burden on hard-pressed detectives and the police service generally.

This year, there is the option for delegates to attend in person or virtually, via an online platform.

For more on the event, plus the full agenda visit the Federation website.