CULTURE change in the police service will only happen if police leaders lead by example, the Chair Elect of South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Zuleika Payne said it was \u201cgrossly unfair\u201d for the Home Secretary to assume that all forces in have \u201csome sort of issue\u201d.<\/p>\n
She was reacting to comments by Amber Rudd in a speech to police leaders that there should be \u201cgreater professionalism across all ranks and roles \u2013 a culture change\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cWe currently have a new Chief Constable in South Yorkshire, we’ve had a lot of legacy issues, we’ve had a lot of negative press, but what the new leadership are very clear on is that everything is top down.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lead by example, people feel comfortable to make challenges where there’s issues around culture, behaviour, and again being supportive in that process. So as an organisation here in South Yorkshire we’re very proactive in that respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be grossly unfair of a Home Secretary to make an assumption that every force has got some sort of issue because I would doubt there’s an organisation in the country that’s not without its issue. So we have to very guarded that we’re not making sweeping statements.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know what she bases that on and what that observation is borne out of, but certainly here in South Yorkshire I can give that reassurance that we do look at those cultural issues, influences, and that being from the top down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika said that the police service will need to thing \u201cmore holistically\u201d after Ms Rudd said that it must re-focus its efforts \u201cto confront the challenges of the 21st century\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cCrime will always be a priority because we’re here for protecting life and property, prevention and detection of crime, so that will always fall within our remit.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, when you look at policing, it’s very different to what it was 25 years ago, for example, because officers have to do so much more. Also because other sectors are being stripped back to the wire officers are finding themselves dealing with more mental ill health cases, people missing from home, and almost entering into a social work arena.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re going to have to think broader and think wider and think more holistically. Crime will always be main priority it’s always on our radar, but also it’s looking at the other issues that are perhaps intrinsically linked with some of those areas of crime.\u201d<\/p>\n