New welfare van expected next month

3 February 2022

West Midlands Police Federation is awaiting the arrival of its new welfare van as part of a joint initiative with the Force.

The van is being fitted out at a specialist vehicle conversion company and will hopefully be ready for deployment next month.

The welfare van will boast a main area featuring a table with seating for four, a sink, a microwave oven, a fridge and a boiling water dispenser while to the rear there will be a toilet with sink and a storage area. The van will also have a retractable canopy which opens from the side to provide shelter and shade.

Officers will have access to the welfare facilities when they are deployed to major incidents and events or while preserving scenes.

The van will be predominantly used at scenes where police work is expected to go on for more than 24 hours but it will also be sent to pre-planned events.

Newly-appointed West Midlands Police Federation deputy secretary Chris “Sid” James said: “This is something I have been working on for three years so it is nice to see that it is nearly ready. 

“I expect there to be a real demand for the van, which should help us evidence to the Force the need for more in the future.

“I proposed the procurement of a welfare van after carrying out a survey of crime scenes over a period of 12 months and found that between 18 and 24 officers attending the average scene were going without basic facilities.

“There were too many occasions when officers found themselves with no access to a toilet, nowhere to take refreshments,  and nowhere to wash their hands.

“So we are delighted that the van is nearly ready and can’t wait to see it put to good use in the very near future.”

The Force agreed to purchase the base vehicle and West Midlands Police Federation is paying for the conversion.

The Force will then be responsible for ongoing costs other than any refreshments when it is deployed by the Federation at pre-planned events which will also be paid for by the branch.

Federation chair Rich Cooke: “The new welfare van will be used in a variety of different circumstances and I think will become essential to the wellbeing of our members.”