2020 Christmas message from the Conduct and Performance Committee

21 December 2020

On behalf of the West Midlands Police Federation Conduct and Performance Committee, may we wish everyone a happy and relaxing (where possible) Christmas and New Year.

For those of you working - stay safe.

For those of you fortunate enough to have a few days off - enjoy.

Why this message? Every year we get asked why we circulate something like this, and every year one or more officers get arrested over the Christmas and New Year period.

So, again, a bit of advice to help keep your festive period festive and to avoid anyone meeting the on call Federation rep and solicitor at Perry Barr/Oldbury etc:

- Don't drink and drive
- Don't use your warrant card to travel on public transport unless it's to and from work - and not while you're under the influence of alcohol
- Don't consume excess alcohol on an evening when you're on earlies the next day. Keep in view your fitness to drive and work the next morning. We are at present seeing an increase in officers attending work and being asked to take a breathalyser test, leaving themselves really vulnerable
- Don't give your personal mobile out to any member of the public you've met via your day job or role as a police officer - on duty or off duty

- If you find yourself in a difficult or challenging domestic or family situation - walk away
- Don't use social media while under the influence of alcohol - think before you hit 'post/send'.

Nobody needs reminding around the current situation with Covid as we have a constant reminder on national TV every hour of the day.

It is really important we, as the enforcers of these rules, really do adhere to them ourselves as to breach them would leave us very vulnerable.

Kind regards and keep safe.

George McDonnell and David Hadley