WELCOMING South Yorkshire Police Federation\u2019s new Chairman Steve Kent.<\/p>\n
Steve joined the police service in 2002, and has been a frontline response officer for the entirety of his service so far. He joined South Yorkshire Police Federation in 2016 as Sheffield\u2019s constable rep specialising in discipline and welfare.<\/p>\n
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Having recently been elected as Chairman of the Federation, Steve says he\u2019s looking forward to the challenge, promising to give nothing but 100% commitment and passion to his new role. He said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI see the Chair as somebody that has got a lot of energy for the role and I think I can make a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to have good relations with the managers in South Yorkshire. This is something I\u2019ve already got but I want to work and build on them, and I think it\u2019ll be really positive going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus is going to be on health and wellbeing within the force, that\u2019s my priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere needs to be a direction change in regard to health and wellbeing. This needs to come first, and not just because it\u2019s a HMIC indicator. It needs to be focused on because we need to sort it out, because there\u2019s some serious morale issues in South Yorkshire. I think we can do more and I\u2019m going to be more proactive in approaching the managers about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can get cops right, and we can get cops healthy and happy to be in work then the service to the public will increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve said he wanted to be more proactive as Chairman, being available to his members and visible in the force. He continued: \u201cI want to improve the Federations visibility. I\u2019m going to be going out to briefings, I\u2019m going to be sending emails out to cops, I\u2019m going to be going out and working shifts with cops. I want to keep my foot in the door with the frontline officers. I want to be out there and visible so all members will know me and know I\u2019m approachable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to get going. I\u2019m sure it will take me a week or two to get used to it all, but I\u2019m just really keen to get the ball rolling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve still got some bits to learn, but what I promise to give is 100% commitment and passion, and I hope that\u2019s what the cops already see from me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to leave this position, whenever I do so, with the force being a lot happier and better placed that what it is when I start.\u201d<\/p>\n