Member News
26th September 2012The Chairman of the Police Federation Paul McKeever paid tribute to his two fallen colleagues in Manchester at a fringe meeting at Liberal Democrat conference.
He also addressed the 20% funding cuts which the police service have had to adjust to very quickly.
"It is a very unattractive place for police officers. It is also affecting the way we police. Where we end up is anybodys guess"
He was also critical of any private sector involvement in frontline policing:
"We are accountable to you not a board or shareholders".
With Police and Crime Commissioner elections on November 15, Mr McKeever was unsure of how his members would react to the newly elected posts:
"There could be some very real changes. Chief officers could be subordinate to Police and Crime Commissioners. We have concerns over the politicisation of policing."
Finally he spoke of the Federation'srelationship with the government in the last two years:
"We will work with any government and we will support issues, but we have had a very difficult relationship with this government.
We are saying to government now, listen to us".
Sir Hugh Orde, the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers described changes in policing as 'the biggest changes since 1829'.
He also referred to a very difficult two weeks for UK policing following the publication of the Hillsborough Report, the tragic murder of two officers in Manchester and the Andrew Mitchell confrontation in Downing Street.
Irene Curtis, president elect of the Police Superintendents' Association of England also spoke at the meeting on behalf of her members who comprise 1400 senior police leaders.
She indicated that the impact of the comprehensive spending review has still yet to be fully assessed by police, with two years of further cuts remaining.
She also said that the reduction of the starting salary by £4,000 will make it increasing difficult for the service to attract the 'brightest and the best' candidates.
Adjusting to fewer resources has been difficult said Curtis especially with police involvment with the Royal wedding, Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics which all required costly additional policing:
"The Games wasn't a three week operation, it was a seven year commitment".
Looking fourther ahead to future policing changes Sir Hugh Orde spoke of the difficulty of the UK police model from his own experience in Northern Ireland. The 44 separate police forces is a model which is 'suboptimal' for 21st century policing.
The Police Federation of England and Waleswill also be hosting fringe meetings at Labour and Conservative conferences.