Sid takes on deputy secretary role

13 January 2022

With an analytical approach to problem-solving, Chris James wants to make a long-term commitment to the Federation for the benefit of members and the organisation as a whole.

Chris, known as Sid in a nod to the British comedy actor, was elected as the deputy secretary of West Midlands Police Federation in December and started his new full-time role at Guardians House early this month.

“It has been a massive change from my former role in the Force support unit at Tipton,” says Sid, who has been a workplace Federation rep since 2018.

“But I am adjusting to that change and already starting to settle in. Having been a rep for four years, I have considerable experience of dealing with a wide range of issues but, of course, I was workplace based so was fitting in my Fed work around my full-time position with the Force.

“I am trained as a CAPLO so have handled conduct cases and more recently I have completed an equality course. But alongside this, I became a Federation trustee 18 months ago so I have a good understanding of the finances and my analytical approach helps with this.

“I am still youngish in service and quite young to be in this position so I can make a long-term commitment to the Federation and I think this will benefit the members in terms of the fact that I can offer some continuity.”

While a workplace rep, Sid was instrumental in securing a Federation welfare van under a joint initiative with the Force and this new vehicle is expected to be delivered in the spring.

He has also secured chairs and pop-up tents that will be available to officers who are preserving crime scenes or otherwise exposed to the elements for long periods.

Sid is working with the national Federation to improve the CMS time log system to enable reps to more easily log the time they have spent on Federation work.

And, while acknowledging that the West Midlands Police Federation branch is one of the most efficient in the country, he is now on a mission to try to make it the most green branch with plans afoot to reduce its carbon footprint.

“I have lots of ideas for how we can improve and I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into these,” Chris says.

Chris will work closely with Tim Rogers, the former deputy secretary and more recently interim secretary, who has now been elected as branch secretary.