'We are working for you'

30 March 2020

I want to offer reassurance on behalf of West Mercia Police Federation that we are working for you through these incredibly challenging and worrying times.

We are representing you at a local level and see our job as challenging the Force to do what is right by you, while at the same time working alongside senior command to implement good practice.

We are facing uncertain times, in which all of us are trying to balance our personal issues and responsibilities with those of our duties and commitment as police officers.

It is hard to comprehend the speed at which things are evolving but what is clear is that we are working in an environment never before experienced. We need to adapt to working very differently and adjusting our whole approach.

We are all learning as we go along so it is really important that you feel able to feed concerns, observations, ideas and anything that is working well, or otherwise, into us so that we can properly represent you at the relevant meetings and ensure that your health, welfare and wellbeing are prioritised.

We are also linking in with the national Federation on a daily basis to ensure that both good and bad practice from across the country is collated so that we can learn from the experience of others.

We are responding to issues you are raising, whether it be directly to the Federation office or via our workplace reps. One example of what we have achieved so far is the funding of cleaning products to ensure that workstations and keyboards are clean and safe. These products are being sourced and distributed by local reps and I would like to thank these reps for their help with this.

We are raising the issue of PPE on a daily basis as it is clear this is a major concern, both locally and nationally. I am also working hard on trying to push on a key issue raised with me by a number of you, regarding officers living in a household with a family member who is vulnerable.

I have been absolutely blown away by how dedicated our members are and the fact that you are prepared to move out of your family home so you can provide a service to the public in these most testing of times.

I believe the Force has a responsibility to respond to this need, and I am doing all I can to achieve this on your behalf. We have also agreed with the Force to apply some further discretion around the extension of pay appeals that are currently ongoing.

These are just a few examples of the many issues we are raising on your behalf and we will continue to do so. We are also offering support to our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall by providing them with the use of our holiday home for officers who are unable to remain in their homes for the reasons outlined above.

We are working through ideas on how we can meaningfully offer support to our members in these truly difficult times. We recognise the strain and worry that will be caused, and therefore we are looking to how we can offer support, both to those who may be isolated at home but also those who remain in the workplace. Again, any thoughts or ideas around this would be welcome

For those in our Group Insurance Scheme (GIS), both GP24 and Red Arc/Health Assured are services that may assist you. Clearly, these services are under strain due to demand and we are posting the most up to date information on our GIS page. You will also find information here about the travel insurance policy for those who have queries regarding this.

We have been asked why the Federation is not putting out its own messages. Please be assured that we have considered this, but came to the conclusion that with the rapidly changing situation it would not be helpful to add a different perspective to what the Force is communicating. Things are confusing enough, but please be assured that we are working constantly in the background and all information coming in to us from members is being fed into the appropriate channels.

If there is anything at all that you need to raise, please don’t hesitate to make contact with me or branch secretary Steve Butler, or your local reps, who are listed on our 'Meet the team' page. Also, if you identify a welfare need with a colleague then we are here to offer support and help wherever we can.

Please take care of yourselves and each other.