Mat Minton named branch deputy chair
23 October 2025
West Midlands Police Federation has appointed Mat Minton as its new deputy chair, bringing with him 27 years of frontline experience, leadership and a long-standing commitment to supporting colleagues.
At 46, Mat has spent almost three decades serving communities across the West Midlands.
“I wanted a career with some adventure. I wanted a job that gave me the chance to lock up the bad guys, look after the public and have a bit of action at the same time,” Mat admits, reflecting on when he joined 27 years ago.
He added: “And I’m pleased to say policing has delivered on all fronts.”
New deputy chair Mat Minton
Since then, Mat has served in an impressive range of roles, starting as a response officer before moving into the ranks of sergeant and inspector.
His career highlights include 21 years of frontline response in Walsall and then Birmingham, as well as firearms, public order policing, Tactical Firearms Command and Bronze Command. Plus, he spent a decade teaching self-defence to fellow officers.
Mat has been involved in many major events across the region. He policed both the 2005 and 2011 riots and was a tactical advisor during the latter disorder which led to an invitation to 10 Downing Street with other emergency service professionals.
He has also received a number of Chief Constable Commendations and awards and Royal Humane Society Awards for his dedication to the job and bravery.
Inspector
“I’ve been quite lucky to have had so many opportunities over the years. With many of these things, it is about being in the right place at the right time,” said Mat, who has been a Federation representative for around 13 years, first taking on the role while serving as an inspector.
“It started with a bit of banter with a colleague who was a serving Federation rep. He basically told me to put my money where my mouth is,” he recalled, “So, I did. I’ve not looked back since.”
Much of his Federation work has been focused on conduct and performance liaison officer (CaPLO) duties, where he has supported colleagues through some of the most difficult moments of their careers.
He said: “It’s tough at times because you start to own their problems and take them on, but it’s also very rewarding when you get the right result for them and their families.”
However, as his Federation caseload grew, Mat admits that he found himself at a crossroads.
He said: “I could not be a full-time inspector and be able to balance an ever-increasing Federation workload. The danger is I would wind up doing both badly.”
Commit
He had a choice to either step back from Federation duties or fully commit.
And, when former deputy chair Aaron Bell moved into a regional role with the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), an opportunity arose for Mat to step into the job full-time.
Happy to dedicate his daily role to supporting members, Mat continued: “There’s always another member to support - they deserve to have the best representation we can give.”
He believes his career experience will be an asset in his new position.
“I have worked with officers of all ranks. I have an appreciation of how senior managers work and what is important to frontline officers, and I like to think that I know how to communicate with all ranks meaningfully and professionally.
“As an inspector, one of my main aims was always to make my officers’ jobs easier where I could. If my staff were more able to do a good job, then the public would benefit. I want to carry that same ethos into the Federation - to make things easier for our members so they can do the best job for the Force and the community.”
Support
Mat also believes being able to relate to officers helps him in the role, adding: “It’s a lot easier to speak to someone and support them if you’ve been in their shoes. I’ve worked with hundreds of officers over the years, and I have an appreciation of how they feel, and the impact of how some good representation can help.”
Looking forward, Mat says one of the main challenges he foresees is raising the profile of the Federation.
“I think people need to see more of us and hear more about what we’re doing. I don’t want to shy away from challenging conversations,” he said.
He also recognises the strain on officers. “Policing is very difficult at the moment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen officers working as hard as they are today. We have a relatively young force, and the job is impacting all areas of their lives - mentally, physically and at home.
“I want to be there for our members. Even if I can’t directly help them, I want to ensure I’m available at the other end of the phone when they need me.
“Supporting members is incredibly rewarding - it makes all the challenges worthwhile.”
Mat ended by heaping praise on his fellow full-time reps: “I’ve got a really good team around me. They have been very welcoming and I have much to learn from each of them.”
READ MORE: Federation secures free courses for officers seeking promotion.
