Police Regulation (15/04/14)
In the wake of the Plebgate affair, I think most reasonably minded people would agree that there is something badly wrong about the way the Police Federation goes about its business and if its union branches have developed into cosy 'chum clubs' dominated by a relative handful of members, then Parliament ought to step in and put its house in order.
In fact, this would probably be a good thing all round because it would highlight the fact that if the police require a degree of independent oversight or external regulation to keep their union on the right track - then so do Westminster MPs.
If you ask me, the House of Commons should not be both judge and jury in its own cause when it comes to complaints - and nor should the Police Federation or other trade unions for that matter.
Police Federation on course to reject list of Plebgate reforms
The Police Federation represents about 127,000 officers of inspector rank and below
Police Federation on course to reject list of Plebgate reforms
The Police Federation represents about 127,000 officers of inspector rank and below
By Fiona Hamilton - The Times
The police union is about to reject demands for “top to bottom” reforms, despite a scathing report which found that it was over-politicised, riven by distrust and in-fighting and hoarding secret money.
The most powerful branch of the Police Federation, representing the Metropolitan Police, has signalled that it is opposed to or concerned with more than half of the 36 recommendations made by an independent panel after the “Plebgate” affair.
West Midlands Police, Britain’s second-biggest branch, and other branches have also indicated “red lights” to some of the recommendations made in the independent review by Sir David Normington, published in January.
Among the measures opposed by the Met are a 25 per cent reduction in subscription fees, limited terms of office and the establishment of a director of equality and diversity.
Leaders of the federation, which represents about 127,000 officers of inspector rank and below, have already been warned that it faces reform by Parliament if it does not embrace change. The proposals will be debated at its annual conference next month.
The disclosures come after it emerged last week that Steve Williams, the federation’s chairman, was on the verge of resigning because of bullying by colleagues over his plans for reform.
Fiona McElroy, the federation’s former head of communications, told the Home Affairs Select Committee that she also came under “personal attack” over reform and described a culture of bullying, inappropriate behaviour and credit card abuse.
Representatives from the Met and West Midlands federation branches said that they were committed to reform, but there were a number of the 36 Normington recommendations that they considered problematic.
The Met branch has given a “red light” to eight reforms. It has concerns about a further 15, considered “amber”, while another 13 have been approved. Its West Midlands counterpart has given a red light to three proposals, approved 17 and is working on a further 16 amber proposals. Branches around the country are considering their position before delegates vote on reform at the annual conference alongside national representatives.
Keith Vaz, the Labour MP and chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “I was surprised that there were so many red lights — that was a worry to me. We really need to get consensus quickly. If they don’t, then not only will the public be concerned but some parliamentarians might feel that the only way to deal with this is statutory intervention.”
Sir David’s report said that the campaign against Andrew Mitchell, who resigned as Chief Whip after the “Plebgate” altercation with officers at Downing Street, plus personal attacks on other politicians, had damaged the federation’s reputation.
He raised serious concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability in the federation’s finances, highlighting its secret reserves of £30 million countrywide, and found evidence of “bad behaviour”, poor treatment of staff and underrepresentation of women and ethnic-minority officers.
David Davis, a Tory MP and an ally of Mr Mitchell — who has always denied calling officers “plebs” when they refused to let him cycle out of the main gate at Downing Street — said that Sir David’s reforms should be the “minimum not the maximum”. He added that there should be a secret ballot involving every member in England and Wales.
John Tully, chairman of the Met branch, said that a red light did not indicate opposition to reform. Some of the reforms simply needed rewording or small changes, and the branch would suggest alternatives to others that it found unacceptable. Many of the amber recommendations were likely to turn green once they had been worked through. “We are not opposed to change — clearly there’s a significant part of the membership that want us to change,” he added.
Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands branch, said: “There isn’t a massive resistance to the majority of it. Everyone accepts that we need to be fit for purpose, to be transparent and accountable.”
The police union is about to reject demands for “top to bottom” reforms, despite a scathing report which found that it was over-politicised, riven by distrust and in-fighting and hoarding secret money.
The most powerful branch of the Police Federation, representing the Metropolitan Police, has signalled that it is opposed to or concerned with more than half of the 36 recommendations made by an independent panel after the “Plebgate” affair.
West Midlands Police, Britain’s second-biggest branch, and other branches have also indicated “red lights” to some of the recommendations made in the independent review by Sir David Normington, published in January.
Among the measures opposed by the Met are a 25 per cent reduction in subscription fees, limited terms of office and the establishment of a director of equality and diversity.
Leaders of the federation, which represents about 127,000 officers of inspector rank and below, have already been warned that it faces reform by Parliament if it does not embrace change. The proposals will be debated at its annual conference next month.
The disclosures come after it emerged last week that Steve Williams, the federation’s chairman, was on the verge of resigning because of bullying by colleagues over his plans for reform.
Fiona McElroy, the federation’s former head of communications, told the Home Affairs Select Committee that she also came under “personal attack” over reform and described a culture of bullying, inappropriate behaviour and credit card abuse.
Representatives from the Met and West Midlands federation branches said that they were committed to reform, but there were a number of the 36 Normington recommendations that they considered problematic.
The Met branch has given a “red light” to eight reforms. It has concerns about a further 15, considered “amber”, while another 13 have been approved. Its West Midlands counterpart has given a red light to three proposals, approved 17 and is working on a further 16 amber proposals. Branches around the country are considering their position before delegates vote on reform at the annual conference alongside national representatives.
Keith Vaz, the Labour MP and chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: “I was surprised that there were so many red lights — that was a worry to me. We really need to get consensus quickly. If they don’t, then not only will the public be concerned but some parliamentarians might feel that the only way to deal with this is statutory intervention.”
Sir David’s report said that the campaign against Andrew Mitchell, who resigned as Chief Whip after the “Plebgate” altercation with officers at Downing Street, plus personal attacks on other politicians, had damaged the federation’s reputation.
He raised serious concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability in the federation’s finances, highlighting its secret reserves of £30 million countrywide, and found evidence of “bad behaviour”, poor treatment of staff and underrepresentation of women and ethnic-minority officers.
David Davis, a Tory MP and an ally of Mr Mitchell — who has always denied calling officers “plebs” when they refused to let him cycle out of the main gate at Downing Street — said that Sir David’s reforms should be the “minimum not the maximum”. He added that there should be a secret ballot involving every member in England and Wales.
John Tully, chairman of the Met branch, said that a red light did not indicate opposition to reform. Some of the reforms simply needed rewording or small changes, and the branch would suggest alternatives to others that it found unacceptable. Many of the amber recommendations were likely to turn green once they had been worked through. “We are not opposed to change — clearly there’s a significant part of the membership that want us to change,” he added.
Ian Edwards, chairman of the West Midlands branch, said: “There isn’t a massive resistance to the majority of it. Everyone accepts that we need to be fit for purpose, to be transparent and accountable.”
