Membership categories: Federation reminder

19 October 2026

Members are being reminded that they can only access full Federation support for incidents that have arisen while they have been a subscribing member.

This means that if they decide to become a subscribing member, they are not covered retrospectively for any incidents, allegations, arrests or periods of performance that occurred when they were not subscribing, only for any unconnected matters in the future.

Similarly, retired officers will only be entitled to Federation support for anything that happened while they were a subscribing member as a serving officer. Retired officers can, however, remain in the Federation’s Group Insurance Scheme so for arrests they would arrange their own solicitor and then make a claim through the scheme.

Enquiries

“We do from time to time get enquiries about the support available and the different member categories, so thought it would be useful to issue this reminder,” says Chris James, West Midlands Police Federation branch secretary.

“Our stance is in line with the national Federation which has issued guidance to all branches around the country so there is a clear and consistent understanding of Federation services, representation and legal funding.

“The Federation's individual support services are funded through the voluntary subscriptions paid by subscribing members. The benefits available to subscribing members reflect the fact that they contribute financially towards the cost of representation, legal support, welfare services and other individual assistance.”

Categories

There are three categories of officer in relation to the Federation:

Non-members:  these are officers who have chosen not to join the Police Federation. They are not entitled to Federation services, advice, representation or individual support but may benefit indirectly from the Federation's wider activities, including work relating to pay, pensions, welfare, efficiency, operational policing issues and national campaigns.

Non-subscribing members:  these are officers who have joined the Police Federation but chosen not to pay the voluntary subscription. They benefit from the Federation's collective work on behalf of police officers and may receive general information and guidance, signposting to other sources of assistance, collective representation on issues affecting police officers as a whole. They will also benefit from national and local Federation activity on matters such as pay, welfare, pensions and conditions of service but they won’t have access to funded legal assistance or representation, funded welfare interventions, dedicated case management nor individual representation services from a Federation.

Subscribing members: these are officers or Specials who have joined the Federation and pay the voluntary subscription. They can access the Federation's individual support services, subject to the applicable Regulations, Rules and Funding Criteria. This includes eligibility for advice and representation in matters such as conduct proceedings, Unsatisfactory Performance Procedures (UPP), complaints matters and other support services and legal assistance available through Federation membership. Subscribing members are also eligible to stand for election as Federation representatives and hold office.

You can find out more about Federation membership and sign up as a subscribing member via our website.