It’s said that the first ninety days in a new role are the most important. They’re also something of a whirlwind, as I have found.
When I first became CEO of the Federation, I knew it would be a challenge, but I also knew I wasn’t in it alone. This organisation is built on the needs of its members and policing more widely, so my priority was simple - listen. I’ve spent the last three months getting out and about, speaking to teams, hearing their stories, and understanding past, current and potential future issues and concerns.
Most of us know what’s working well and where improvements can be made, but it’s different to see the landscape from a position of being able to influence change. It’s not all going to be smooth sailing and change usually comes with a few bumps in the road, but my approach is to be honest and fair and keep our shared purpose front and centre.
Providing practical support
While my role is strategic, I don’t want to lose touch with the day-to-day support we provide to members. Currently, we’re assisting several officers facing misconduct and welfare matters. It can be a daunting and worrying experience for those being investigated, but our Reps are on hand to ensure a fair and transparent process. In recent years, the Federation has invested in an extended range of training and development for Reps, and I am keen to build on this so we’re in the best possible position to support our members.
I have also been very heavily involved in supporting the family and colleagues of an officer we lost recently. The death of a colleague – a friend – sends shockwaves through the force and supporting their loved ones has been a humbling experience. You can’t help but put yourself in their shoes.
With this in mind, there are some things I will ask you all to do: ensure you have a will in place and that your next of kin details are up to date on the CNC pension scheme and, if you’re a member, the CNC Welfare Fund. I would also recommend considering joining the CNPF Group Insurance Scheme, although it is another expense it does offer many benefits including generous death in service benefits. Pushing admin like this down your to-do list could mean your loved ones are not eligible for financial support, such as the next of kin grants, at a point when they possibly need it most.
Meeting with leaders
In addition to spending time with officers on the frontline, I have contributed to the mid-line managers course, covering the Federation's role and extending our offer of advice and support. With the proper guidance around police regulations and force policies, many issues that arise can be dealt with really effectively at this level. I have also attended Senior Management Appointment Panels to support the fairness and transparency of that process.
And as you might expect, I have met with Chief Constable Chesterman, Deputy Chief Constable Martin, and ACC’s Smith and Vance. The Federation has a productive relationship with the Force, and that’s important. We don’t always agree but will always listen to each other. We must be able to share information to ensure we are all aware of matters concerning our members and can seek assistance as required.
More recently and in company with members of the Force’s leadership team, Darren Adams and I received a very timely input on post-incident procedures from the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA). It was extremely helpful to hear from a Federation rep involved in a recent high-profile case and listen to his views on the legal proceedings, the post-incident process, and the welfare element of PIP. The afternoon was given over to discussions between post-incident managers in CNC and the Federation. We covered everything related to the PIP process, from who the on-call PIM should contact in the Federation to the need for welfare provision.
I mentioned training earlier, and it’s important to note that we have at least one PIP-trained rep at each of our current units. However, we plan to expand this as it's a significant risk area for our members.
Building and maintaining relationships
In the last few weeks, Darren Adams and Ian Muir have been out and about, meeting with Ministry of Defence Police colleagues who are joining CNC in April. These events gave us an opportunity to talk about the Federation's role, what’s covered by group insurance, and our various member service benefits and answer their questions. I was glad to meet some officers on their conversion course at Griffin Park and host a brief Q&A.
I have also been getting to know key stakeholders in other Federations, including the Defence Police Federation, the British Transport Police Federation, the Scottish Police Federation, the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, and the Police Federation of England and Wales.
I want to maintain and develop the positive relationships from which my predecessors benefited. There’s already an agreement in place formalising closer working on matters affecting members in non-Home Office forces, such as pay and conditions, fitness testing, and conduct. I have been grateful for the warm welcome I have received from the Federations I have met with so far, and I genuinely believe we are stronger when we work together.
I hope this update has been useful. If you have an issue you would like to raise with the Federation, please either speak with your local Fed rep or come directly to us.
Colin Longstaff - CEO