Relax, we’ve got you both covered George Burrows has designed a top up life assurance policy specifically for servicing officers, and their partners, if they subscribe to the Federation Group Insurance scheme.
- Prices from just £6.05 per month - Cover for you and/or your partner - Payable on death by any cause - Choose from 3 levels of cover:
£50,000
£6.05 per month*
£75,000 £9 per month*
£100,000 £12 per month*
Call us today 01403 327719 www.georgeburrows.com George Burrows is a trading name of Heath Lambert Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: The Walbrook Building, 25 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AW. Registered No: 1199129 England and Wales. www.gallagherheath.com * Benefit levels reduce and premium rates increase on retirement. Cover ceases at age 65. Full details are available from the Federation or George Burrows. * The premiums payable will be subject to periodic review and may go up or down.
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Chairman’s introduction Chairman’s introduction
3
Adam to take on secretary’s role
4
A message from DBT’s chairman
Derbyshire continues to lead the way By Mark Pickard, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation
5
Force bucked trend with increase in numbers
7
Home Office publishes known data on officer assaults
8-9
Online survey: how we acted on your responses
10 - 11
COPS honours fallen officers
13
Have you joined the Benevolent Trust?
14
DBT roadshow
15
An introduction to mindfulness
16 - 17
Care first: information and support
18
Brave officer
19
PCC will not seek re-election
20
Golf match honours Stan
21
Limited duties: your guide
22 - 23
Plodding On is published by
Derbyshire Police Federation 1 Windmill Rise South Normanton Derbyshire DE55 2AZ Telephone: 0300 122 8533 Email: enquiries@derbyshirefederation.org.uk
www.derbyshirefederation.org.uk
It will not be long now before we hear more about the Government’s budgetary plans with an announcement on the Comprehensive Spending Review being due in the next few weeks. While we do not know what it is likely to bring, we can hazard a guess there is not going to be any extra money available for policing and we have already been given an indication that more cuts are on their way. Some senior officers are starting to put their heads above the parapet warning they are going to have to decide which parts of the service they can no longer deliver. Sara Thornton who leads the National Police Chiefs’ Council, formerly ACPO, has suggested forces will need to prioritise and perhaps not attend all burglaries and concentrate on counter terrorism work, child sexual exploitation, cyber crime and human trafficking. No-one wants to see a reduction in the service we can provide to the public but, as we have said from the outset, there is only so much you can do with everdeclining resources. We accept we had to take our share of the cuts but we are getting to the point where we are being stretched so far that something will have to give. It is somewhat frustrating, however, to have been told by the Government when defending its austerity measures that we are all in this together, only to learn MPs are being given a 10 per cent pay rise. How can that be right and just? The rise - taking their salaries from just over £67,000 to £74,000 - was recommended by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). While some have come out and said they do not want a rise, I’ve yet to see any MP offer to donate this increase in wages to a charity .
Produced by XPR (UK) Ltd www.xpruk.com Designed and printed by www.Creativefive.co.uk
If that was the case, I would suggest they donated it to the National Police Memorial
Mark Pickard, chairman, Derbyshire Police Federation
Day or Care of Police Survivors (COPS). Having just attended the annual family memorial service organised by COPS at the National Arboretum at Alrewas, I can testify to the value of the charity’s work in supporting the families of officers who have paid the ultimate price and given their lives while serving their communities. These families should remain in our thoughts and should be considered part of the police family. As such, I would urge Derbyshire officers to consider taking part in the Police Unity Tour next year. The sponsored bike ride sees officers from all forces cycle to the arboretum, arriving on the day of the COPS service. Each rider wears a wristband featuring the name of a fallen officer and this is handed to the family at the end. Finally, I would just like to mention Derbyshire Benevolent Trust. Formed just over a year ago, its work is now really taking off and bringing real benefits to its members while also freeing up the Federation officials to concentrate on its core business – representing police officers, negotiating on their behalf and influencing decision-makers. Here in Derbyshire, we had already started to reform the way in which we work before the Normington review was published. We are now working in a far more efficient and cost-effective way, putting members first in all that we do. We are leading the way at a time when some other branches and the national Federation appear to be making very slow progress. The work of the trust is just one example of our fresh approach. Please register at www.derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com to start taking advantage of the benefits it offers. More details about the trust’s work appear in this edition 3
Adam set to take on secretary role Adam Galley will take over as the secretary of Derbyshire Police Federation in October this year and has already started work in the South Normanton office to allow for a hand-over period before the retirement of the current holder of the post, Ian Godfrey. Adam shares his views and outlines a change of emphasis within the Federation in this introductory article. As the incoming secretary, I look forward to the new challenges I face especially as I have spent the first 16 years of my service in front-line policing roles. I became a divisional Federation representative in October 2008 holding the positions of trustee, treasurer and deputy secretary prior to becoming the general secretary of the Derbyshire Federation. I have gained useful skills, however, my learning curve having arrived in the Federation office fulltime has been a steep one. In the past the Federation sought to be all things to all people, I am lucky in the fact that the Derbyshire Federation has recently decided to withdraw from anything that does not form part of its core business. As a result, I will be devoting all my working time to the Derbyshire Federation and national Federation issues with none of the distractions faced by previous post holders.
Adam Galley - secretary of the Derbyshire Police Federation
The additional services - group insurance and member benefits traditionally provided through the Federation - are now being taken care of by Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT). I don’t need to elaborate further as the chair of DBT, Pete Massey, explains this further in a separate article (right). Derbyshire Federation has a good working relationship with the Derbyshire Constabulary; this has not always been the case. There are still some areas in which we do not agree but our retiring secretary, Ian Godfrey, always sought to find a solution rather than simply sitting at loggerheads. This ethos applies regardless of whether we are in negotiations with the Chief Constable or helping resolve a grievance between colleagues. I plan to continue in this vein seeking the best resolution for the members I represent.
Here to support its members Telephone: 0300 122 8533 enquiries@derbyshirefederation.org.uk www.derbyshirefederation.org.uk 4
It is clear I am moving into my role at a difficult time. The police service in general is under pressure to do more with less. I know members of Derbyshire Federation are among the people finding themselves at the sharp end of decisions made by the Government and are having to deal with everything thrown at them from all angles including from the general public. As an officer who overnight had six years added to my service, I am acutely aware of the issues surrounding the CARE Pension Scheme. Having hit the ground running, I have already been in direct contact with the national general secretary, Andy Fittes,
on this issue. I have been making efforts to influence in the strongest possible terms the direction that the national Federation takes in relation to this matter and to ensure realistic lines of challenge are fully explored. I will continue to do this. In addition to local negations and representations I am able to make, I always seek to influence the national Federation representatives holding them to account while ensuring the Derbyshire Federation not only has a voice but that it is listened to and taking an active part in the national debates. I will always, to the best of my capabilities, represent the views of Derbyshire members at a national level while ensuing I am still doing everything I can to maintain or improve the working conditions of members locally. It may be a clichĂŠ but I am sincerely proud to have the opportunity to represent Derbyshire police officers. I am committed to faithfully representing your views and am interested to learn your opinions on any relevant subject relating to the Federation. Please feel free to telephone, email or call in at the Federation office to see me.
A message from DBT’s chairman Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT) was only formed just over a year ago but already its making a difference to its members. DBT’s aim is: To provide and permit welfare and benevolent facilities for members and their families. And, already it is doing just that. With an understanding of the stresses and strains placed on police officers and staff, and these seem to have been heightened during the programme of cuts, two of the initiatives we have already got off the ground are yoga and mindfulness sessions.
As trustees, we are looking to expand on these over the coming months so please ensure you check the site regularly and also let us know by sending an email to admin@derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com if there are other offers or discounts you would like us to try to secure.
These are free to DBT members and have proved incredibly popular with officers and staff who have given us some great feedback.
The trust, which also now manages the, what was formerly, Federation’s Group Insurance Scheme, has been set up for you so please help us to maximise the benefits it can offer.
But while we have considered the health of mind, body and soul, we have also made sure that financial wellbeing is also covered. We have lined up a series of surgeries with experts in all aspects of personal finance and these are also complemented by legal surgeries. And, if you register with DBT at www.derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com, you can also access a wide range of discounts and offers.
And remember, there are three categories of membership: • Regular - serving police officers • Associate - serving staff • Retired - police officers and staff So please encourage your fellow officers and police staff colleagues to register with the trust. Pete Massey
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Force bucked the trend with increase in numbers Derbyshire Constabulary saw the fourth largest percentage increase in officer numbers in the 12 months to the end of March this year when compared with the other 42 forces across England and Wales, according to a new report from the Home Office. The report, Police Workforce, England and Wales: March 2015, revealed the Force had 1,788 officers in March 2014 and 1,863 in March 2015, an increase of 75 officers (4.2 per cent). The largest percentage increase was in Bedfordshire (5.3 per cent). The other force shown to increase more than Derbyshire was Dyfed Powys (4.7 per cent) while Dorset had the same percentage increase (4.2 per cent). Nationwide, there was a decrease of 1,091 officers (0.9 per cent) to a total of 126,818 with Durham recording the largest decrease with a 9.3 per cent fall. Only 13 forces showed an increase in numbers with four of those being negligible - South Wales and Sussex registering a 0.1 per cent increase, Thames Valley 0.4 per cent and Lincolnshire 0.9 per cent. Across forces in the East Midlands there was a decrease in officer numbers of 23 (0.3 per cent). On the increase in officer numbers, Mark Pickard, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation, said: “We must commend the Chief Constable for his efforts to not just maintain police numbers during the Government’s cuts programme but for fighting to increase them. “At a time when all but 13 forces in England and Wales were still seeing their numbers reduced, this is a significant achievement and helps us provide the
communities we serve with an efficient policing service. “I am just a little concerned as to whether these figures include Derbyshire officers seconded to regional units. In the past these have not been added to our Force based officers so it could be that the increase is not as significant as it appears.” He also warns: “While our numbers in Derbyshire were increasing, we have seen a number of officers leave. Nationally, decreasing resources are putting extra strains on all officers. However, we need to work to address any underlying local reasons to try to ensure that we can provide a stable, well trained police force for the county.” Derbyshire also showed an increase by 6.7 per cent in minority ethnic police officers with the total now standing at 3.4 per cent, below the 5.5 per cent averaged across all 43 forces in 2015. However, within Derbyshire there was a 5.4 per cent ‘wastage rate’ (number of police officers leaving as a proportion of officers in post) against a national average of 5.5 per cent, which was itself 0.1 percentage point higher than the previous year. “The efforts made by our force should be commended, however, we must realise that we have had to succumb to the will of the Home Office and have had to return to a downward trend in officer numbers,” says Mark.
Here to support its members Telephone: 0300 122 8533 enquiries@derbyshirefederation.org.uk www.derbyshirefederation.org.uk
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Home Office publishes known data on officer assaults A total of 49 Derbyshire police officers were assaulted in the 12 months up to 31 March 2015, according to data published by the Home Office. There has been concern about the rising number of assaults for some time but the Police Federation conference in May this year also heard that there was no accurate record of officer assaults and therefore that any figures may be just the ‘tip of the iceberg’. The Home Office has stressed that these latest figures are not official statistics due to their known limitations including differences in how the data is supplied by individual forces: Self-reported data This does not include assaults that officers do not report to their health and safety or HR teams. In some cases officers will choose not to report cases, as it is often not compulsory to do so. This is likely when cases do not involve injury, or where the assault occurs as a result of an individual resisting arrest. Not all forces provide this data in the same way. A small number provide data from their crime recording systems, which are likely to include cases where an officer did
Here to support its members Telephone: 0300 122 8533 enquiries@derbyshirefederation.org.uk www.derbyshirefederation.org.uk 8
not report the assault to their HR or health and safety team. Therefore these forces will record higher numbers of assaults. Police recorded crime data Forces supply the number of cases of “assault without injury on a constable” to the Home Office as part of their recorded crime data. This only includes assaults where no injury was involved. It is not possible to separately identify cases involving officers from other cases of violence with injury. Statistics for self-reported incidents were published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary (HMIC) in its annual report until 2005/06. They were then published by the Home Office until 2009/10. But since then they have not been published due to concerns about the quality and comparability of the data. The Home Office report says: “Most forces provide data on assaults from their human resources (HR) or health and safety systems. This is consistent with the Home Office guidance. However, some forces provided data from crime recording systems, and suggested that this provides a better measure of the total number of assaults. “It is noticeable that for the small number of forces who have provided the data in this way (Hampshire, Warwickshire and West Mercia), the number of assaults is higher relative to other similarly
sized forces. The HR and health and safety systems data are likely to be an underestimate of the number of assaults on police officers. Police forces have indicated that this is because of the selfreported nature of the data. “In many cases officers may not report these assaults to their HR or health and safety colleagues, particularly where the assault is less severe and does not involve injury, or where it has taken place during someone resisting arrest. Although these cases are likely to be recorded as crimes, it is often not compulsory for officers to report them to their health and safety colleagues, and many do not do so.” John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, and Hampshire Chief Constable Andy March have, since conference, presented an update on their force’s work in this area at the National Police Chiefs’ Council and received a positive response. Similar work is expected to start in many forces. Hampshire’s Seven-Point Plan is shown (right)
Assault on Police Officers Investigation Standards: What we expect from you
A Seven-Point Plan 1.
Assaults on police officers and police staff should be investigated with the same care, compassion and commitment as an assault on a member of the public. This sounds obvious, but too often our response to assaults on officers and staff can be rushed or treated as secondary to other offences.
2.
The Victim Code applies to all victims and therefore to assaults on police officers and staff. Complying with the Victim Code means keeping the victim updated, discussing outcome options, and taking account of the victim’s point of view before imposing an outcome. This is crucial because we know that we don’t always get our response right, with assaulted officers and staff reporting dissatisfaction and even resentment.
3.
The assaulted officer must never be the OIC for the investigation into their own assault. This is not appropriate on any level and even taking statements from witnesses may be inappropriate. The integrity of the investigation and the impartiality of the officer could be called into question, which could undermine the case and/or heighten the impact on the victim.
4.
Victims recover better and more quickly if they receive the right welfare and supervision. This also helps to avoid long-term negative consequences. The assaulted person’s supervisor should meet with them as soon as it is practical to do so. The victim may downplay the impact on them, but supervisors must recognise the potential effects of the incident.
5.
The supervisor must ensure that the district commander is informed to provide continuity of welfare support. The Police Federation or Unison can also provide valuable additional support to the victim.
6.
The assaulted officer and the supervisor must complete the Accident Management System (AMS) report. It will not always be possible for the victim to do this, in which case another person can complete the report.
7.
To achieve a successful prosecution, the best evidence must be presented. You should use Victim Personal Statements and whoever is investigating the assault needs to fully understand the “points to prove” for assaults on police officers or staff. An officer’s self-written statements, provided straight after the events, could be made in haste and might not contain all of the key facts. As a result, cases sent for prosecution sometimes fail to meet basic evidential needs.
Andy Marsh, Chief Constable
John Apter, Chairman Hampshire Police Federation 9
Online survey: how we acted on your responses
More than 400 officers took part in our online survey last year as we continued in our bid to modernise our Federation branch, improve our service to members and develop the benefits available to them.
“One year on, it is fair to say that we have made considerable progress in developing Derbyshire Police Federation and the new Derbyshire Benevolent Trust so that we can respond to the findings of the survey,” says Ian Godfrey, Federation secretary.
DBT-Site
DPF-Site
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“First and foremost, we have been concentrating on ensuring that we are working efficiently and effectively, keeping members at the heart of all that we do. “Much of the progress in developing the work of the Federation around the country came on the back of the Normington review but here in Derbyshire we had already embarked on a significant change programme before the review team’s report was published and we have continued to lead the way.”
Derbyshire Police Federation
The survey was open from 29 July to 22 August and was based on the feedback received from members attending focus groups during last year’s annual conference, the views of the Federation’s executive and also its development strategy.
Survey outcomes We did:
Derbyshire Police Federation
You said: Updating the services offered along with the look and feel of the DPF website would help to attract younger officers
We are continuing to review and develop the services we offer, with the aim of making them appeal to all officers but also specifically those younger in service The Federation (and the DBT) website has been re-designed to give it a fresh look and a more user-friendly appearance and formatted to work with mobile devices.
The development of other “free” services included in the £21.58 subscription would be well received
Again, we are continuing to review and develop free services. Already through DBT, we are offering members access to yoga and mindfulness sessions, financial and legal surgeries, a range of discounts, DBT roadshows with member service providers
Members would like to be able to buy extra products and services that are relevant to their lifestyle
We are working with our member service providers and other supportive business partners to offer a range of products and services suited to various lifestyles, many of these are provided at discounted prices. These include a 10 per cent discount at Go Outdoors, reduced price motorcycle training, discounted boots
79.33 per cent of DPF members who responded to the survey believed that our services will increase in importance in the future
We understand this and feel that it is important for us to develop a range of support services focused on members’ wellbeing, both in a physical and financial sense – hence free DBT yoga and mindfulness sessions, regular surgery appointments with financial advisers, solicitors and mortgage experts
Plodding On and the Federation diary should be developed
Plodding On has been re-designed and re-launched with a more modern look and a focus on local news and the work of DBT. The diary is being produced through DBT.
A healthcare scheme was voted as the top future priority with longterm financial planning as the next priority
Long-term financial planning advice is available through a number of our member services providers – including Lifetime Wealth and George Burrows, both of which host surgeries at our South Normanton office.
The choice made by most people – in terms of what they wanted to see on offer - was family days out and general discounts. 75 per cent of DPF members selected this option
We are arranging new discounts and partnerships on a weekly basis and making sure these are promoted on the DBT website. All members have to do is register at derbybenevolenttrust.com and then check regularly to see what deals are available. Many of the leading attractions are already offering our members discounted tickets.
Social media links were the lowest priority for the vast majority of our members (82 per cent)
While we continue to use social media, we have not made it our main means of promoting what we have to offer
81 per cent of DPF members want to hear from us AT LEAST quarterly
Plodding On is printed and sent out to members quarterly. It is also available as an ‘electronic’ magazine on the Federation website. We regularly update the Federation website with relevant news items and offers are promoted through the DBT site.
Communication is a top priority for members and is expected regularly from both the reps and the executive
We have made this our top priority – improvements to the website and Plodding On are part of our commitment to keep members informed Reps are regularly sent updates from the executive and then issue these to members.
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Member Loan
Holiday Loan
All loans are subject to status and our lending criteria.
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Joining is simple, all we require is that you save a minimum of £5 each month and this gives you full access to all our other products. You will earn a dividend on your savings each year.
Visit www.no1copperpot.com or call 0161 741 3160 Number One Police Credit Union Limited trading as No1 CopperPot Credit Union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 213301. For details visit http://www.fca.org.uk. 12
COPS honours fallen
officers and their families Officers of all ranks and families of fallen officers gathered at the annual Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Memorial Day at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire on Sunday 26 July. Derbyshire Police Federation was represented by Mark Pickard, chairman of the Police Federation. “The COPS service is one of the key dates in the policing year,” says Mark Pickard, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation. “It is an opportunity for us to show the fallen officers’ families that their loved ones are not forgotten and neither are they; they remain part of our policing family. “It is a moving occasion but also a reminder of the great work that the COPS charity does to support the families of colleagues who have paid the ultimate price while serving their communities.” The Roll of Honour for the five police officers who died on duty during the last 12 months was read out by COPS’ President Denis Gunn. They were PC Neil Doyle of Merseyside Police, PC David Arthur, The Met, PC Jonathan Relph, The Met, PC Kevin Stoodley, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, PC Russ Wylie, Humberside Police. There were also mentions of Daniel Woodall – a former Greater Manchester Police officer who was killed as a member of the Edmonton Police Service in Canada. In the presence of their families, Timothy Mitchell, a Californian police officer, and Gregg Benner, a New Mexican police officer, were also remembered prior to a minute’s silence. Sir Keith Povey, patron of the charity, said: “The primary objective of COPS is to help surviving families rebuild their shattered lives after the tragic loss of as officer in an on duty death. “Whilst I know survivors value the bonds that are formed, I also know that you need to remain a member of the police family. And that is why it is so important to see so many of the force representatives here.”
Are you up for the Police Unity Tour? Cyclists from the UK Police Unity Tour biked from London, Norfolk, Wales and Leicester to the arboretum near Lichfield over the COPS weekend, for the third year running – raising £75,000 for bereaved families.
Date to remember Derbyshire Police Federation will also be represented at this year’s National Police Memorial Day (NPMD) which is being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Sunday 27 September 2015. NPMD is an annual event to honour police officers killed in the line of duty. The deadline for registering to attend has now passed.
Each cyclist wore a wristband with the name of the officer they were remembering, which after the ride was then passed on to that officer’s family. If you would like to take part in the Unity Tour next year, contact COPs via www.ukcops.org/ 13
Have you joined the Benevolent Trust? Members of Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT) now have access to a wide range of benefits; all focused on promoting wellbeing. DBT was only formed just over a year ago but already it is making a difference to members’ lives by offering yoga and mindfulness sessions, surgeries with legal and financial experts and discounts with a number of companies including Go Outdoors, Triskelion Motorcycle Training and Voice Mobile (mobile phones). Full details of all offers and a list of all the businesses supporting the trust can be found at www.derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com, simply register and then sign in to access the members’ area.
Membership is free
Here are just a few of the current offers: Altberg Boots Discounts detailed online at altberg. co.uk username (police) and password (federation). Once logged in members can find all boots and discounted prices. Orders must be placed through the factory or send an email to sales@altberg.co.uk
Police Insure
offers preferential rates to DBT members. For details of how to get a quote visit policeinsure.co.uk
Go Outdoors
provides a 10 per cent discount in store upon production of member’s DBT card.
Triskelion Motorcycle Training
offers Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), required to validate the provisional Category A licence - £90. Direct Access Scheme, a course of training designed to achieve a full Category A licence. Enhanced Rider Scheme, the first stage of post-test training for either returning riders or as an introduction to advanced riding. 10 per cent discount on each training element.
Working for members 14
Fast-track course to the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ motorcycle advanced riding test. RoSPA a course leading to the RoSPA advanced motorcycle test. 7.5 per cent discount on each.
Pump Court Chambers
offers an initial advisory service to members of the DBT in all areas of law in which they practice. The service is provided on a fixed fee basis for either a time limited telephone conversation (45 minutes) or brief written advice.
About Derbyshire Benevolent Trust Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT) was established on 11 June 2014.
The Derbyshire branch of the Police Federation asked a group of individuals to form the trust with the aim of taking over the running and administration of its Group Insurance Scheme and ‘other such provisions’ for its members. Once the formal trust deed had been signed by the original four trustees, a constitution was devised and the Object of the Trust was defined as: “To provide and permit welfare and benevolent facilities for members and their families.” The trustees also agreed that there should be three categories of membership:
is run ‘in trust’, must work for the benefit of its members. Being independent means DBT can work in a more commercial or business oriented way to develop benefits, discounts and incentives for its members and arrange services, provisions and initiatives that its members want. Any funds raised, through commissions or marketing revenue, MUST be used for the benefit of the members of DBT. The main focus of DBT is ‘wellbeing’ in both physical and financial terms and, as such, the services offered are expected to contribute to peace of mind through awareness seminars; financial advice surgeries and complementary therapies, such as yoga, physiotherapy and mindfulness. DBT is also establishing a simple benefit scheme for members through a network of companies and service providers who wish to show support for its aim of providing benevolent and welfare services to members.
Members offered expert advice
Members of Derbyshire Police Federation can take advantage of a series of legal and financial surgeries organised by Derbyshire Benevolent Trust. The surgeries, which are held at the Federation office in South Normanton, offer one to one appointments with experts from:
Ordinary - Police officers serving within Derbyshire Constabulary Associate - Individuals who work for Derbyshire Constabulary who are not attested police officers along with widows or widowers of deceased members Retired - Individuals who have retired from Derbyshire Constabulary and who had been subscribing members to DBT for at least two years prior to retiring.
Police Mutual Mortgages George Burrows, financial welfare Linder Myers, family law Prosperity Wealth, independent financial advice.
However, as far as practicable, all services and provisions are available equally to all members.
Please email admin@derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com to find out more or book your place.
The trustees also defined provisions for spouses, partners and children of members (up to 22 years of age). The Derbyshire Benevolent Trust is an independent organisation which, because it
One hour appointments can be booked via Derbyshire Benevolent Trust and dates are currently available from September to December.
DBT roadshow tours the county
Ian Godfrey (right) and Sue Fergusson (centre) with member services providers at the roadshow
Officers and staff seeking to find out more about the Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT) attended three ‘showcases’ held around the Force area during June. DBT took its roadshow to the following locations: C Division HQ (Tuesday 16 June) D Division HQ (Tuesday 23 June) B Division HQ (Tuesday 30 June) DBT staff answered questions about the trust’s aims and objectives while service providers - including George Burrows, CopperPot, Police Insure, Prosperity Wealth Management, Leon Moore of Heartmind and Voicemobile – were also on hand to talk to visitors. Copperpot offered an introductory incentive of £10 to anyone who opened an account with them, Police Insure provided a competition prize and Voicemobile donated a mobile phone. Other giveaways were also handed out including DBT mugs and pens. Look out for future DBT roadshow dates.
Derbyshire Benevolent Trust (DBT) has organised a number of FREE sugeries for members seeking help and support with legal and financial matters
Surgery dates
Whole of market mortgage advice Police Mutual Mortgages: Chris Lee Tuesday 8 September Tuesday 13 October Tuesday 10 November Tuesday 8 December Appointments are for one hour starting at 9.30am with the last appointment at 4pm
Prosperity Wealth Independent financial adviser Dates for September – December to be confirmed Appointments are for one hour.
Financial welfare surgery Caroline Harris from George Burrows Wednesday 7 October Wednesday 4 November Wednesday 9 December Fully booked Appointments are for one hour starting at 10am with the last appointment at 2.30pm
Family law surgery Karen Leadbetter from Linder Myers Thursday 3 September Thursday 1 October Thursday 5 November Thursday 3 December Appointments are for one hour starting at 10.30am with the last appointment at 3pm
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An introduction to mindfulness By Leon Moore Over the course of the past year, Derbyshire Benevolent Trust has been offering a number of introductory sessions to mindfulness meditation, as part of its approach to providing members with a suite of health promotion activities and therapies. With the increasing demands placed on officers and staff, it is becoming more evident that workplace stress is affecting significant numbers of employees in all sectors. These introductory mindfulness sessions, which have so far taken place throughout the county in Buxton, Chesterfield and Derby, aim to give participants some knowledge about the build-up of stress, and some very simple, but clinically effective, skills to help deal with the effects of stress. The sessions have been well attended and the feedback from participants has been encouraging. Here is what a couple of attendees have said about the past sessions:
Member 1
“At the time of attending the session I was finding life very difficult to cope with. I was experiencing panic attacks, high anxiety and not eating or sleeping properly and probably would have ended up going off work due to stress. The theory part of the session was greatly beneficial in understanding what is happening in the body in reaction to stress and having this understanding helps in order to deal with the physical symptoms. The whole practice of mindfulness has helped massively now in how I deal with my stress. “Without using this technique, my thoughts would have run wild then the physical stress symptoms would start. I am now more able to view the future in a positive way and by living in the moment I have found happiness in things that would have otherwise passed me by.”
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Member 2
“I went to the session feeling really tired after spending a day a work and, if I am perfectly honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the prospect of a three-hour input in the evening. However, I found the session to be excellent. Not only did I find the scientific explanation/ presentation to be fascinating, but the relaxation exercises at the end left me feeling really 100 per cent relaxed and surprisingly refreshed. The location, length of the session and time of day turned out to be perfect because it was locally based and avoided peak travelling times.”
The Government has recently set up an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to look into how mindfulness can be rolled out into many areas of society in an initiative it is calling ‘A Mindful Nation’, with the criminal justice sector being one of those areas of specific consideration. Our work in offering these mindfulness sessions to DBT members has come to the attention of the APPG and we have received positive feedback from them, in that our work here in Derbyshire promoting mindfulness is the first of its kind in the country currently happening. For more information and an interim report by the APPG, visit www. themindfulnessinitiative.org.uk.
The biggest obstacle we have encountered so far in getting mindfulness out to more DBT members is the role played by workplace culture. There are still outmoded attitudes prevailing in the constabulary towards stress, its effects and how to handle it, that prevent many staff from accessing these simple techniques to tackle what is an increasing health issue within the workplace. All our sessions, however, are fully confidential and independent from any workplace reporting, so you can attend an introductory session in total confidence of discretion, impartiality and support with whatever has brought you to try out mindfulness for yourself. Having had a break over the summer, we are restarting these introductory sessions for 2015 with the next one in Chesterfield in September, then Derby in October, Buxton in November and Alfreton in December.
For more information on the location, times and how to book a place, please visit the DBT website www.derbyshirebenevolenttrust.com
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Insurance scheme responds to Greek crisis Members of our Group Insurance Scheme will be insured for carrying up to £1,000 in cash when travelling to Greece or the Greek Islands due to the country’s current economic crisis. Tourists heading to Greece are being urged to take extra cash so the insurers have doubled the cover provided. The current cash withdrawal limit of €60 a day only applies to Greek account holders and holidaymakers using an overseas bank will not have the same restrictions imposed. They should also be able to pay for goods and services by card. But, due to the unusual circumstances, the Group Insurance Scheme will provide extra cover in respect of cash for members travelling to Greece and returning on or before 30 September 2015.
Care first: information and support 24/7 Members of the Derbyshire Police Federation Group Insurance Scheme can access professional counselling, information and advice on work and personal issues through Care first. Independent and offering a confidential service, Care first is available to offer help and support free of charge, all day, every day. Care first offers: • Unlimited freephone access for advice on personal and work related issues • Face-to-face counselling • Short-term counselling and support by telephone (up to six one-hour sessions per issue) • Support and referral for longer term issues • Information services for any practical and day-to-day issues. • Management support and referral services. • Online articles and wellbeing advice
Visit www. carefirstlifestyle.co.uk and log in using username: DERBY2010 and password: Derby2010. A team of information specialists are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm to answer any practical queries you may have.
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They can deal with a range of practical issues including: Communication problems - Phones and mobile phones. Complaints about the media. Queries about television licences, copyright and so on. Travel, transport and holidays Holiday problems, holiday complaints. Driving licences, passports, MOTs, moving overseas with a car. Immigration and nationality, citizenship - Overstays, dual nationality, passport stamps, au pairs, immigration control and working in the UK. Education - Problems at school, student grants and student loans. National, international and human rights - Voting procedure, moving overseas, messages from the Queen, Benefits - Do you qualify? How to claim. Taxes - Income tax, Council Tax, PAYE, fringe benefits, tax rebates and tax arrears.
How to use the service Just call 0344 770 1036 and speak to a professional counsellor in confidence. Care first is a leading provider of professional counselling, information and advice offering support for issues arising from home or work. It employs professionally qualified counsellors and information specialists, who are experienced in helping people to deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues.
Brave officer arrested violent attacker despite serious injuries
Judge Jonathan Gosling said the criminal courts were unable to award compensation and Peake had no assets but said the officer’s work should be highlighted.
A Derbyshire police officer who won a judge’s commendation for arresting a thug who had smashed his cheekbone and half-blinded him has been nominated for this year’s national Police Bravery Award.
PC Shakil said: “It is very nice to be publicly acknowledged.”
He said: “It seems his bravery in continuing and effecting this man’s arrest, as well as the injuries he suffered, deserves a commendation. It does not compensate for the injuries, it is simply to note the public-spirited action he took.”
Peake, of Carter Street, Allenton, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm. He had been on bail at the time for assaulting a police officer two days earlier.
PC Mohammed Shakil (30) was put forward for the award by Derbyshire Police Federation after stepping back into the incident, despite his own injuries, as he saw teenager Jordan Peake was still throwing punches at another officer.
The court was told how officers had been sent to detain some men in a guest house in Burton Road in the early hours. When they got in, Peake was discovered hiding under a bed and pulled out by PC Kane Martin, who was then joined by PC Shakil.
He had blood dripping down his face, one eye out of use and was in agony from a double-fractured eye socket but still managed to handcuff the offender. The brave PC, who is based at Pear Tree Police Station, needed four hours of surgery to fit three titanium plates around his left eye.
He has been unable to return to full-time duties since the attack on 16 February this year. His face and part of his mouth is still numb, although he has regained full eyesight. After Peake (18) was locked up for two years at Derby Crown Court, PC Shakil, who has five years’ service, said: “I suppose it was a natural instinct to help the other officer. We had to get this man under control or he could have seriously harmed someone else. If he had thrown another punch, I could have lost the eye.”
Home Secretary announces review of custody deaths Home Secretary Theresa May has announced an independent review into deaths in or following police custody across England and Wales. The news came after latest statistics showed there were 17 such deaths in 2014-2015, the highest total for five years. As in previous years, mental health and links to drugs or alcohol were
common factors among many of those who died.
Welcoming the review, Mark Pickard, chairman of Derbyshire Police Federation, said: “While an increase of this kind is clearly a cause for concern, the new figures also show that in many cases these deaths involved people with mental health issues. Within the police service, we have been saying for some time that police cells should not be used as a place of safety for people with mental health concerns but they are simply because of a lack of suitable alternatives.” It was a point acknowledged by Mrs May when she announced the review, saying: “Police custody is a place where a number of dynamics meet. it is a place where dangerous and difficult criminals are rightly locked up. Where officers and staff regularly face violent, threatening and abusive behaviour, and where the police use some of their most sensitive and coercive powers.
Abi Joyce, prosecuting, said: “The defendant became aggressive, shouting and squaring up to the officers. At that point, he pushed the officers back, became aggressive, throwing punches.” The court heard Peake’s first offence was battery in 2008, with an attempted robbery the following year. He also had convictions for robbery, burglary and having an imitation firearm. He will attend the gala ceremony for the Police Bravery Awards in London in October after an afternoon Downing Street reception with other nominees.
“But it is also a place where all too often vulnerable people, often with mental health problems, are taken because there is no other place to go.” The review will consider events leading up to the death, the immediate aftermath and the way in which families are supported during subsequent inquiries.
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PCC will not seek re-election Derbyshire’s first ever Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has announced that he will not seek re-election next year. Alan Charles, the former Labour county councillor and vice chairman of the Police Authority, was elected in November 2012 when the new posts were first created. At the time of his election, he pledged to fight cuts to policing budgets beyond 20 per cent and to ‘keep policing public’. But in July, he announced that he would only be serving one four-year term in the position. “It’s been a huge privilege to be Derbyshire’s first PCC and I have enjoyed it immensely,” he said. “I would also like to think that, despite the Government’s extremely challenging funding cuts, significant progress has been made which will benefit policing, community safety and victims of crime in the years to come. “However, I’m aware that the workload for PCCs, which is already pretty full-on, is only likely to increase in the future. I’m 65 next year and I want to enjoy some time
with my family who say they rarely see me these days! “As one of the pioneer PCCs, it’s been challenging, fascinating and incredibly fulfilling. We have been able to shape the development of the role and make a real difference to policing governance. I am grateful to all those who have made this possible including the Derbyshire residents who elected me to represent them, Chief Constable Mick Creedon and the entire Constabulary. “Most importantly, this is not a job for a lone ranger and I have received great support from my deputy, Hardyal Dhindsa, and from my team led by chief executive David Peet, who have all been tremendous and absolutely invaluable. “There is still a lot to be achieved before May 2016 and I remain absolutely committed to the role. However, I felt it was fair to make my intentions clear at this early stage which will give the Labour Party the opportunity to seek an outstanding candidate for the next election.”
An electrician by trade, in 1997 Mr Charles left a workers’ co-operative in the energy management controls industry that he had set up in 1988 so he could concentrate on local politics. In the PCC elections, he beat the Conservative candidate Simon Spencer, after second round votes were counted by 57,248 to 36,469. In the first round they had beaten Rod Hutton, an Independent candidate, and UKIP’s David Gale. But turn-out was 14.4 per cent compared to 15.1 per cent across England and Wales. During his victory speech, Mr Charles took off a wristband printed with the words “Keep policing public”, which he had been wearing during his campaign He said: “It was the main part of my campaign - I was saying very clearly that I would not allow any police support services in Derbyshire to be privatised.”
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@PoliceInsure 17/08/2015 14:33
Golf match
honours Stan’s memory
By Andy Picken, Retired Derbyshire police officer Golf has its traditions and etiquette which, for me, is a strength of the game. Individual responsibility is a key issue at any level. I don’t see the game as oldfashioned but merely tipping a cap to all that has gone before to develop it into the multimillion pound industry that has evolved. Since forming in 1946, the Derbyshire Police Golf Society has developed its own rituals and traditions. We have trophies donated by family members of now deceased society supporters and their memory is still a legacy for future members.
proudly at the 10th tee at Horlsey Lodge as recognition of his standing within the golfing community. There is a beautiful poem on the bench written by a close friend and fellow golfer.
the after match meal was followed by a social drink and the shared swapping of anecdotes and stories involving a real character. Many involved excessive drinking and shenanigans that cannot be repeated.
As the society evolves over the years, the significance of names and the history of events diminish slightly. Members who knew the person move on and having no personal connection with the trophy donor lessens its impact.
Stan was one of life’s real characters and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to organise a real tribute to the man and his charisma some 21 years after his untimely death.
I have tried to review every single past trophy winner and donor and have included a register of these facts within our website for use by future generations of golfers who follow.
Hopefully, this revisiting of the event and its origins will make it easier for those who follow to fully understand the significance of our society fixture list for the future.
As part of this work, I realised that it was the 21st playing of the fixture. Of great significance was the fact that this year’s captain at Horsley Lodge Golf Club was Mark Daws. He was also a personal friend of Stan and founder member of the club. When I suggested we recognise the event more formally during the after match meal, he was enthusiastic and very supportive. Mark also had as many great golfing and social stories of shared experiences with Stan as many of those who were his peers and colleagues from years ago.
I strongly believe in archiving the history of policing and the history that goes with police sport is an important part of our development and tradition.
We had an excellent golf match played in a competitive but friendly spirit and
I realise little emphasis is now placed on sporting prowess and even less support is given to those wishing to play police representative sport. I am able to remember the time when abilities in this area were considered to be very important to the wellbeing of staff. Certain local forces would only recruit new officers if they were expert boxers and above six feet tall until only a few years ago.
My first match as captain in 2015 was at Horsley Lodge Golf Club, my home course, in April. This is a fixture first played in 1994. The invitation was made after a tragic on duty road accident involving Anthony “Stan“ Thornley and Gary Freeman, serving detectives from Derbyshire. Stan was a founder member at Horsley and an active member of the society and, in recognition of this fact, a match was developed to be played annually as a memorial to the man and his golf. A bench, donated by members and friends at the time of his death, stands
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Limited duties: your guide Derbyshire Police officers are being encouraged to read a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document on the new provisions for limited duties published by the national Police Federation. The FAQs cover a wide range of issues including a definition of each category of limited duties, why the changes have been introduced, the meaning of the term ‘fully deployable’, an explanation of the ‘x-factor’, transitional arrangements and a section on common misconceptions about the changes. Andy Fittes, the general secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), has said: “PFEW has severe reservations about the potential discriminatory impact upon officers with a protected characteristic. Given the complexity of this issue and the need for future monitoring of the equalities impact in forces, the Home Office has set a review date for the determination. “This will be 18 months after the determination came into effect. Implementation and ongoing use of these measures will be monitored by the Police Advisory Board of England and Wales (PABEW) and the impact of any pay adjustments will be monitored by the Police Remuneration Review Body. “We made extensive comments on both the guidance and the regulations and determinations to try to make them as robust and clear as possible. We are concerned that almost every case will involve potential disability discrimination. “Unfortunately, there are still many areas that lack clarity and may cause confusion and uncertainty for members. Much will now depend on how forces implement these arrangements. “Whilst the determination and accompanying guidance sets out the key principles that forces should adhere to in implementing these measures the Home Office and chief constables have consistently made clear that some elements will be left to forces to design a process.” The Police (Amendment) Regulations2015, which came into effect on 1 April 2015, give the Home Secretary powers to determine the circumstances when a member may 22
be placed on limited duties and the entitlement to pay when on adjusted duties (Regulation 22 and 28A). Home Office circular 010/2015 published Annex EE came into effect a month later together with supporting guidance to forces and the Home Office Equality Impact Assessment. Some of the questions, and answers, given are shown below but a full list can be found on the Derbyshire Police Federation website.
2.1 What does ‘limited duties’ mean? ‘Limited duties’ is the term used to describe some circumstances in which officers may be unable to undertake the full range of police duties. There are three categories of limited duties: Recuperative duties Adjusted duties Management restricted duties
2.2 What is the definition for each limited duties category? The limited duties categories are defined in Annex EE under Regulation 22 of the 2003 Police Regulations as follows: Recuperative Duties is defined as duties falling short of full deployment, undertaken by a police officer following an injury, accident, illness or medical incident, during which the officer adapts to and prepares for a return to full duties and the full hours for which they are paid, and is assessed to determine whether he or she is capable of making such a return. Adjusted Duties is defined as duties falling short of full deployment, in respect of which workplace adjustments (including reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010) have been made to overcome barriers to working. For an officer to be placed on adjusted duties, he/she must: a) Be attending work on a regular basis; b) Be working the full number of hours for which he/she is paid (in either a full-time or part-time role).
Management Restricted Duties is defined as duties to which an officer is allocated in circumstances in which: a) Verifiable confidential or source sensitive information or intelligence has come to the notice of the force that questions the suitability of an officer to continue in his or her current post; and/or b) Serious concerns are raised which require management actions, both for the protection of individuals and the organisation; In either case also that: c) Criminal or misconduct proceedings are not warranted; and d) The Chief Constable has lost confidence in the officer continuing in their current role.
3.1 What are the main features of the scheme? The HO Equality Impact Assessment states that the focus of the scheme is intended to ‘help forces to deploy the individual skills and capabilities of every officer to the fullest extent possible’ enabling forces to better determine what resources they have available at any one time to meet operational demand and to improve resilience by deploying officers in a more efficient way. The new process and definitions set out in Annex EE should help ensure a consistent approach to allocating officers to limited duties. Forces do though have discretion as to how they implement this process but they will need to ensure that each officer is assessed individually on a case by case basis, balancing the needs of the individual and the needs of the force. Forces must have due regard to the Equality Act 2010. Forces must have a clear understanding of:
•
• •
The level of demand/operational requirement including contingency for periods of exceptional demand and to meet statutory requirements under the Strategic Policing Requirement; The resources needed to meet that demand including the number of fully deployable officers; and Which officers are deployable, for what range of duties, at what times.
Forces must develop this understanding before they can begin to implement these provisions – it is not sufficient to simply define a narrow group of roles for adjusted duties officers or conversely designate all posts as ‘fully deployable’. Forces must undertake a force wide assessment of operational demand, roles and capabilities of all officers; only then will they be able to map roles and resources across the organisation. Forces must regularly review their workforces against the operational requirements and changing local and national priorities.
3.4 What does ‘fully deployable’ mean? As set out in Annex EE a fully deployable officer will generally demonstrate all the following core capabilities: a) the ability to sit for reasonable periods, to write, read, use the telephone and to use (or learn to use) IT; b) the ability to run, walk reasonable distances, and stand for reasonable periods; c) the ability to make decisions and report situations to others; d) the ability to evaluate information and to record details; e) the ability to exercise reasonable physical force in restraint and retention in custody; f) the ability to understand, retain and explain facts and procedures; g) the ability to work the full range of shifts (earlies, lates and nights). The kinds of capabilities needed for a role will vary and not all duties will need to be carried out in exactly the same way on all occasions by all officers in the same roles. Officers who cannot demonstrate all the capabilities listed above may still be matched to a substantive police role, particularly given the variety of roles that exist in the police service. Unless a force
can demonstrate that a particular officer is impacting on the force’s ability to meet its operational requirements it is difficult to see how a pay reduction could be justified. This definition of fully deployable applies only in relation to the placing of an officer on adjusted duties – it is not used for any other purpose for example when considering the possibility of permanent disablement or permanent medical unfitness under the Police Pension Regulations.
3.6 I am a disabled officer, will I be placed automatically on adjusted duties? No – a disabled officer who is fully deployable must not be placed on adjusted duties. If you fulfil the definition for adjusted duties, the process outlined in the guidance must be followed.
3.13 What is the ‘x-factor’? Tom Winsor set out in his review (Final report, volume 2) that the term ‘x-factor’ is used to encapsulate those elements of police officers’ responsibilities and obligations, and terms and conditions, that are peculiar to service as a police officer,
and are shared by very few workers in the public sector and even fewer in the private sector.
3.14 How will the ‘x-factor’ be calculated? The value of the ‘x-factor’ is: Eight per cent of basic pay for constables; and Eight per cent of basic pay for all other ranks, capped at eight per cent of the maximum of constables’ pay. The calculation of ‘x-factor’ does not include any additional allowances or payments such as London weighting, overtime, acting up allowance etc. The ‘x-factor’ should be calculated daily, for each day an officer has spent on adjusted duties. Further to the above, representatives of the Derbyshire Branch Board met with senior members of the forces HR department on Monday 17 August. As a result of that meeting we are confident that Derbyshire Constabulary is anxious to ensure that any process that they put in place is fair and provides a credible method of implementing this Winsor reform from the outset. However we must always be mindful that legislation and potential dictats from the Home Office can quickly influence the situation.
Linzi Perriman, Associate Solicitor
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