Federation welfare survey: make your voice heard.

3 November 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott is urging members to take part in this year’s Demand, Capacity and Welfare Survey before it’s too late.

The national Federation survey is an opportunity for members to voice their opinions of a range of issues, including policing during the pandemic. It closes on 16 November.

“This is the first survey on demand, capacity and welfare that we’ve run since the onset of the pandemic,” said Jon, “And it’s important that we build a picture of just how it has impacted officers. The survey also looks at other issues around officers’ workload and welfare and gives members the opportunity to help shape our policy.

“We know everyone is busy but, if members can take a moment to complete the survey, it will help us have a stronger voice when we’re talking to decision-makers.”

This year’s survey is the third of its kind. It is designed to provide a fuller picture of the main challenges currently facing policing and includes specific questions around working during the pandemic and the plan to recruit an extra 20,000 officers by 2023.

The results will be compared with those of the 2016 and 2018 surveys in which the average job satisfaction rating in the West Midlands was 4/10, 84 per cent said there weren’t enough officers to do the job and 79 per cent indicated health and wellbeing difficulties.

Jon added: “Taking part really will make a difference, so please make your voice heard. We need as many of our members as possible to fill out the survey. The results are used nationally by the Federation when it meets with the Government and other stakeholders but, as long as we get a good return from our members, we also get a Force level report that we can discuss with chief officers.”

Contact the Federation office by email if you have not received a link to the survey.