MP meetings continue as Nigel Huddleston welcomes regular dialogue with Fed

28 August 2026

West Mercia Police Federation chair Gareth Spreadbury has continued to engage with local MPs, having recently met with Nigel Huddleston to discuss the issues affecting police officers and policing across the area.

The meeting was part of the Federation’s commitment to building strong and constructive relationships with elected representatives, ensuring they have a direct understanding of the challenges facing officers and the communities they serve.

Speaking after his conversation with Gareth, Nigel was enthusiastic about maintaining regular dialogue to ensure the voices of West Mercia’s police officers are heard at Westminster.

“I appreciate Gareth reaching out to me and being proactive in opening up a line of communication between us,” said Nigel, who is MP for Droitwich and Evesham. “He seems to have hit the ground running in his new role, and I think the Federation is lucky to have him.

“I have had many interactions with individual police officers during my time as an MP, but never really regular contact with a Federation official, so it will be good for us to start doing this.”

 

Chair Gareth Spreadbury (right) and Nigel Huddleston MP

 

The discussions covered a range of policing and policy issues, giving Nigel an opportunity to hear directly from the Federation about the pressures facing officers and the challenges of policing a large and predominantly rural force area.

Nigel said the meeting helped him better understand the Federation’s perspective and informed his own views on policing.

“We discussed some policy related to policing, and this will help to formulate my views when I’m put to my party, so it’s very much appreciated by me from that perspective,” he continued.

A key focus of the Federation’s engagement with MPs is ensuring that politicians understand the reality of policing and the impact that decisions made at Westminster can have on officers and their communities.

Policing pressures

Nigel said he recognised the pressures officers face, particularly the impact that negative media coverage can have on confidence and wellbeing.

“I will always be mindful of how difficult policing can be as a job.

“I can appreciate that too often the focus is on high-profile, negative incidents which can taint the incredible jobs that officers do. This can significantly impact morale, when you are seeing things in the press you have no control over.”

He also highlighted the need to do more to promote the positive work carried out by police officers every day.

“I think it’s down to us as MPs to encourage people to go into public service, and right now, we are probably not good enough at spreading positive police stories. It’s a responsibility on all of us.”

Rural policing

The Federation also stressed the importance of ensuring the needs of West Mercia’s rural communities are not overlooked when policing resources and priorities are considered, especially as the Government is currently considering a proposal for fewer police forces but larger regions.

“In my position, it’s absolutely vital I can get the views of officials and officers so I can then lobby the PCC around the allocation of resources, ensuring West Mercia Police can function properly,” he said.

“As a force covering vast rural areas, I know how important it is not to be naïve around thinking all crime is in the city and to ensure local areas are not neglected.”

The experienced MP, who has been in Parliament since 2015, went on to praise the effectiveness of visible policing and engagement, which he has witnessed first-hand in Droitwich and Evesham.

“I know my constituents appreciate the police presence and engagement we have here, and I know how much value officers place on that in return. It is important officers feel backed and empowered to do the jobs that mean a lot to the public."

Realities of policing

Branch chair Gareth agreed, adding: “We want to make sure that local MPs have a clear understanding of the realities facing police officers across West Mercia.

“Building these relationships gives us an opportunity to raise the issues that matter to our members, but also to have constructive conversations about how we can improve policing for both officers and the communities they serve.

“It is important that we continue to make sure the voice of our officers is heard, locally and nationally, and we will continue to engage with MPs across the force area to achieve that.”

Rounding off, Nigel welcomed the prospect of maintaining regular contact with the Federation.

Relationship

“Looking forward, I am keen to continue this relationship with the Federation, both in consistent meetings and more informal conversations,” he said.

“The Fed plays such a pivotal role in ensuring police officers’ voices are heard, and I know there is work to be done around the issues most important to them. Together, we can look to address these.”

The Federation will continue its programme of engagement with local MPs as part of its commitment to ensuring officers’ views are represented at both a local and national level.

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