Dear Colleagues,
As the year draws to an end I am going to state the obvious and say that 2012 has been like no other. Perhaps the only real positive to mark has been the fact that GMP played a massive part in the biggest peace time policing operation that the country has ever seen and did so with pride. This was done despite the abject failure of G4S and others motivated by financial greed who viewed the Olympic Games as nothing more than an opportunity to make as much money as possible for shareholders. That’s what sets us apart from the private sector and that is what this Government and their cronies sadly don’t understand - our stakeholders are our communities and we answer to the Crown.
Recently I heard a comment that so aptly summed up this Government`s drive to systematically dismantle the finest police service in the world - `Never waste a good crisis`. Nobody is in any doubt that the country and indeed the world are in economic dire straits and action was needed. The Police Federation said from the outset that we accepted that some things were going to change and we would have to take our fair share of the pain. However the attacks upon police officer pay and conditions go far deeper than financial savings. This is about ideology and political score-settling with its roots going back into the 1990s. Those of you who were around then will remember the doomed Sheehy Inquiry into Police Pay & Conditions, a report which was rubbished and consigned to the dustbin of history after it was taken apart by all branches of the service. Some of you may also be aware that an up and coming political aide worked closely on that project – none other than a young David Cameron. I will leave the cynics among you to come to your own conclusions.
This year has seen the Police Arbitration Tribunal rule on Winsor 1 and now on Winsor 2 whilst what was once considered to be the party of law and order sits idly by. This coalition Government has presided over cuts to police budgets that will see police officer numbers return to those of the 1980s. Policing budgets have been slashed by 20% and those cops that are left seeing their pay packets dwindle for the thankless role they perform and they are told this has to happen as we need to make savings. What we cannot reconcile ourselves with though is the fact that as communities see officers disappear from the streets this Government is sending billions of pounds overseas in the form of aid to countries that are able to fund space programs! By the end of this Government the total cost of overseas aid will exceed what they spend on policing. We in the Federation fully support the principle of looking after those less fortunate than ourselves, however the first function of every Administration is to look after the public and this needs to be brought sharply back into focus.
Summer also saw the biggest single gathering of police officers in history anywhere in the world when the police service of England & Wales descended upon the capital. How much effect this will have in the long run remains to be seen, however what it does do is highlight the supreme arrogance of a Government who is so out of touch with the police service that they paid less notice to the fact that 35000 police officers were marching past their window than they would have done had this been a tour bus of pensioners from Wigan.
The start of September saw the reality of the attack upon our pensions, deftly supported by the Government spin machine talking of gold-plated pensions and over-paid cops. No mention though of the contribution levels and the fact that many are too exhausted after a lifetime of scrapping with drunks and druggies to make much use out of their hard-earned retirement.
Perhaps surprisingly for a Federation update I want to pay tribute to the reforms this year has seen within the Force`s Professional Standards Branch. We in the Federation have long despaired of the length of time investigations take and the apparent disproportionality that some investigations involve. 2012 has seen a new era of co-operation between GMP Federation and the Force`s PSB which has seen partnership working bring some very tangible and measurable results that benefit our members. This has included educating officers as to the most common ways they can land themselves the wrong end of an investigation combined with some simple tips as to how to avoid that. Also advice on how to ensure they are in as defensible a position as possible when faced with those inevitable complaints that are part of being an effective front-line police officer. We have seen PSB drastically reduce investigation times and embrace proportionate investigations alongside of sensible discussions with Federation Reps as to swift resolutions involving proportionate sanctions where appropriate. As well as saving the force a phenomenal amount of money the benefits for police officers are clear, in that the length of time members are subjected to the stress of being under investigation has been massively reduced and colleagues are now starting to give us feedback that they feel that they have been dealt with quickly, fairly and proportionately - something that was unheard of in the past.
We all know though that there will only be one reason 2012 will be forever remembered in GMP's history. The events of the morning of Tuesday September 18th brought unspeakable evil to our city and no words can ever accurately sum up the sorrow, frustration and anger that our family felt. As that day and those that followed unfolded we came together as a police service locally, nationally and internationally to stand shoulder to shoulder with our communities to say thank you to Fiona and Nicola and pay our respects to two young people who had their lives taken from them for no other reason than they wore a police uniform.
This Christmas will be incredibly difficult for those closest to Nicola and Fiona and I know that you will all want to join me in sending the message that every one of us will be thinking of them. I am also sure that many of you will at some point quietly raise a glass in making your own personal tribute to two young police officers who will be forever remembered as having made the ultimate sacrifice for quite simply wanting to help people.
God bless you Nicola and Fiona and may you now rest in Peace.
In conclusion, can we in GMP Federation wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a safe 2013. For those of you who are working over the festive period we hope that you find some time at least to enjoy with those closest to you. And if you need any Federation help or support we continue to operate 24 hour cover right through the period.
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