National Federation conference to change next year

THE Police Federation’s Annual Conference will be cut down from three days to two days, with the number of attendees almost halved.

The changes are expected to be implemented from next year as part of the organisational reform outlined in the 2014 Police Federation of England and Wales Independent Review, led by Sir David Normington.

Out of the 36 recommendations put forward, 12 have already been completed. For example, the Federation’s first national Annual Public Value Report was published online in May 2015 and it will continue to publish one every year.

An “openness commitment” has also been signed by all local force branches and the national Federation to establish the principle that all committee papers and minutes should be available to members unless there is genuine commercial, political or negotiation sensitivity.

National and local member databases – which will allow better communication with members – have also been developed and are scheduled to go live in May.

These fundamental changes are based on a revised Core Purpose, which has been included in the Policing and Crime Bill 2016, reflecting the Federation’s commitment to act in the public interest, with accountability to the public and members.

It is the first time it has been changed since the Federation was set up in 1919.

Agreed at the 2014 Annual Conference, the reforms aim to “create a Police Federation that can act as a credible voice for rank and file police officers and genuinely serve the public good as well as its members’ interests”.

This year’s conference will take place on 17 to 19 May at the Bournemouth International Centre, where representatives from the 43 forces throughout England and Wales, as well as from Scotland, Northern Ireland and overseas, come together to share good practice and debate issues affecting policing.