Introducing Michael Caley as the Federation’s new Post-Incident Co-ordinator.
Michael is based mainly at Griffin Park Tactical Training Facility, where he serves as Chief Inspector, SEG. Michael plans operations and is responsible for maintaining the essential security equipment required to carry out movements of Nuclear Material by sea. He manages a team as well as health and safety and security, supporting the Police Search Advisors (PolSAs) and Licensed Search Officers (LSOs).
Seasoned officer
Having joined the UKAEAC in Oct 1999, Michael has served with the Constabulary for just over 26 years. “I started my time at Sellafield OPU,” he told us. “I went on to join the Firearms Support Unit (FSU), then the Dynamic Entry Team (DET), and while doing that, I joined the Strategic Escort Group (SEG). Back then, it was two separate areas, the Marine Escort Group (MEG) and the Road Escort Team, so I was in MEG. I served as a Police Constable, Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector at the Sellafield OPU.”
Michael assisted with the Dounreay Exotics Consolidation Programme DECP, which involved multiple movements of Nuclear Material from Dounreay to Sellafield as part of his role with the Strategic Escort Group. He has also completed movements of Cat 1 Nuclear Material via sea to the USA. Japan, France.
The importance of the role
Despite his long career, Michael is relatively new to the Federation, having been elected as the Senior Officers Fed Rep 2025 and to the Federation’s Executive team. Each Executive member holds a specific portfolio, and Michael has taken the lead on PIP. He explained:
“I feel the role of Post-Incident Coordinator is a very important role within any Police Firearms team, but especially one within as many Authorised Firearms Officers as the CNC has. Some very high-profile recent national cases which have involved the discharge of police firearms have shown the effect it can have on officers.
“Subsequent actions could have significant legal, mental and personal impact on those involved. It is vitally important that the CNC and the CNPF ensure any actions taken after an incident are carried out correctly to ensure these actions not only support the officers and staff but are also robust enough to withstand any challenges that would inevitably follow.
“Training, planning and exercising these roles and activities are essential to ensure we are constantly developing in this important role. From a personal point of view, I feel ensuring I keep myself updated on any processes, changes and findings from cases is key to keeping myself in a position to carry out the role to the best of my ability. The consequences of any errors would put a significant risk to our employees.”
People are our great assets
As he took up this new role, we asked Michael if he had a message for his colleagues.
“People are our greatest assets. This may sound a little cheesy, but it is people who make the CNC the professional team that it is. To ensure we keep our staff safe and secure means being there to support them in so many ways; ways that the Federation supports.
“My door is always open.”