“Are you disappointed by industrial rights ballot turnout?”

WAS the Police Federation of England and Wales disappointed with the turnout for the industrial rights ballot? Why did more officers not vote?

Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, addressed members concerns and questions after the results were announced earlier this month.

Read the full interview here.

Are you disappointed by the turnout in the industrial rights ballot?

No, I am not disappointed. While we haven’t met the threshold – ie 50% plus – the numbers that have voted sent for me a very clear message to Government of their concerns and their anger on what this Government is doing to the best police service in the world. Twenty per cent cuts that have been invoked upon us and the attack on pensions, pay and terms and conditions. I never thought I would see the say when 34 per cent of the entire workforce would wish for the Police Federation of England and Wales to seek industrial action on their behalf. But those were the stark figures. It is something Government needs to take notice of and take heed of. They need to now consult and engage positively with the Police Federation to make sure those concerns are heard and dealt with.

Why did more officers not vote?

I can’t comment on why more officers did not vote. We did everything as far as I was concerned to get the message out. And how important it was to cast your vote irrespective of which way. The Joint Central Committee (JCC) took a neutral position on this. The percentage that have voted is still very, very high in any ballot. I don’t know why others did not feel it was necessary to cast their vote.

What is the right time to hold the vote?

We have been talking about doing the ballot for some time now. And have been criticised from certain sections of the organisation for dragging our heels. That was not the case. We wanted to make sure the ballot was right and proper. Timing is everything. We had committed ourselves to having the ballot in the course of February, which is what we did. Compulsory severance is still to be sorted…

What would you say to those who say you should have another ballot after the compulsory severance decision in the summer?

I am sure there will be members who want for that to happen. We need now to take stock of what the result means to us. The JCC will gather very shortly to discuss our options and what if any further actions that we may consider taking down the line.

Will the Government listen to the tens of thousands of officers that have voted?

I would like to think that they would. For me we need to build bridges. We have obviously had issues in the past in our dealings with Government and I want to engage professionally and openly and constructively with Government. I am being met with an open door policy really – and I like to think I am building up a working relationship with both Home Secretary Theresa May and the Police Minister Damian Green for the greater good of the membership and the police service.

What would you say to members who say “This is a mandate. Enough officers have voted to pursue industrial rights”?

A decision was taken some time ago about the threshold and the importance of [getting above] 50% plus 1 and I agree that that should have been the threshold. I was decided upon by the JCC. I can understand the feelings out there of people who do not hold the same view. It is our policy and it remains our policy and I think it was the right decision. To change the working status of 133,000 police officers in this country needed a clear mandate of 50% plus and that never happened.

Is there a danger of infighting in the Federation now of those who want to take this forward and those that don’t?

My job as leader of this organisation is to make sure the “inhouse fighting” does not occur. We have got to work together. Our strength is in our unity. A decision has been made. We must abide by that decision. We will have conversations moving forward but we have to work together for the greater good of the membership.

What is your message to members – frontline officers – post the ballot?

I still think we can let members concerns be knows at Government level and it is my job to make sure those concerns are conveyed. I am the voice of 133,000 police officers in this country. As unpalatable as some views are to some in Government they have got to be heard. It is my job to do that.

What about the fact MPs pension contribution rises have been suspended while police officers are going up?

It is extremely disappointing. It is a decision politicians have made in respect of themselves. We often hear “we are all in this together”. I question that.

Colleagues in Ireland are working to rule now. Will that ever come to pass in England and Wales?

It is a possibility. It is a sad indictment that police officers are so angry with what this Government are doing to the police service. Officers up and down the country want to deliver on behalf of their communities, to protect the public – that is what they joined to do. But with the cuts we are seeing and the attack as they see it on their pay and terms and conditions, it make life very, very difficult for a lot of my colleagues out there. They are frustrated because they want to deliver. And at times that is not happening because of what the Government are doing to the best police service in the world.

Did you vote in the ballot?

I did vote.

Which way?

What I voted is immaterial. I am here to represent the voice of 133,000 cops and that is what I intend to do.