Core principles of Normington Report are approved

DELEGATES at the Police Federation conference have agreed to accept the overarching recommendations of the Normington review – and discuss them in detail in the coming months.

Representatives voted against debating each of the 36 recommendations in the document at the Federation’s annual general meeting. Instead, it was agreed to “accept the core principles and essential elements contained within the Norminton Report.”

An “implementation progress report with any further decision making as required, will be made no later than conference 2015 or earlier at a specially convened conference.”

In an emergency motion to the AGM on the Thursday afternoon of conference (22 May), Federation representatives also voted to suspend rank committees and separate budgets and become a unified organisation.

Sir David Normington – a former Home Office permanent secretary – said during a speech to conference that some of the recommendations could take two or more years to introduce.

His report – published in January – featured a raft of recommendations, including that the rank structure of the Police Federation of England and Wales should be abolished as should the National Joint Central Committee.

The independent review into the organisation also recommended that a national database of the membership should be established and that all members will vote on the local and national chairmen.

Another motion – which has been widely contested – is that “there should be limits on tenure for all post holders of two terms of three years”. Fed officials feel roles should go to the “best person for the job.”

Joint Branch Board representatives have been discussing the 36 recommendations since January.

One question for South Yorkshire Police Federation is how much the Federation should “act in the public interest”, as recommended by Normington.

Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “Yes, we agree that as police officers we are totally publicly accountable, but as a Federation – the one legitimate voice that our members have – we cannot be dual-controlled by our members and the public.

“As police officers we are accountable, but as Federation officials we have got to represent our members, negotiate on their behalf, influence on their behalf and that must be the prime objective.”

The new agreed proposal suggests that an implementation board should be created to closely examine the detail of the 36 recommendations, and that this should be headed up by “an appointed project director”.

The motion agreed on Wednesday also recommends the interim creation of a National Council comprised of Branch Board General Secretaries and Chairs; four Metropolitan Executive Board reps; six Women’s Reserved Seat reps and two Reserve Seat reps for black and ethnic minority officers. They will become a decision making body and elect an 18 person interim National Board.

Steve Williams, outgoing chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “I am extremely proud of my Federation representative colleagues who have agreed and endorsed the need for change and reform of the Police Federation and accepted the principles contained in the Normington Report.

“They have demonstrated they have the interest of the police officers we represent and the public we serve at the heart of what we do.

“We must now take this forward to ensure we have a Police Federation fit for purpose; a Federation that is open, transparent and accountable; a Federation that is best equipped to protect police officers’ welfare and promote what is in the interests of the public.”