PSA president calls for care and support for ‘under strain’ police workforce

At this week’s annual conference of the association, running until September 17, Superintendent Nick Smart will deliver his presidential address, urging the Government to address the funding, demand and wellbeing issues impacting on policing.

The annual address will be delivered to Policing Minister, Sarah Jones and to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.

Supt Smart will call for long-term, sustainable funding into policing to enable the service to deliver on government pledges, and to deliver the basics of policing, well.

He will say: “Policing continues to sit at the bottom of the pile when it comes to government funding, despite ongoing pressure to deliver widespread safety reform, with fewer and fewer resources.

“It is the first duty of government to keep its citizens safe, yet we see little evidence of a commitment to doing this. Instead, ensuring public safety will be even more challenging, as the population grows and demand on police rises, whilst funding does not keep pace.”

He will call on government to define the police mission and to mandate community safety partnerships to deliver consistent outcomes for communities, taking the burden away from the police, who continue to serve as “society’s sticking plaster”, and will urge the Government to move forward on its promised policing White Paper, with the support of policing leaders.

He will say: “It’s incredibly encouraging to hear of the Government’s commitment to reforms. We want reform also.  This is a tipping point for the service and the chance to make real, tangible change.

“But where is the White Paper that was mentioned 12 months ago and due to be published in spring?

“We have countless studies and research findings showing us the ways in which our service can be more efficient and effective – something we all so clearly want. Where is the drive to make this happen?

“A White Paper should be the blueprint for change, based on evidence. We have the evidence, we have experts such as our members ready to inform every step– now let’s commit to change and to being better.”

Supt Smart will focus on the wellbeing impact of policing, sharing audio testimonies of members and the significant personal impact policing can have, but also the transformative effect of the high- quality wellbeing support offered in some forces.

He will stress the need for this high level of support to be available to every police officer, no matter where they are based, and for occupational health standards to be mandated to ensure this is the case.

He will say: “We can’t stop the job our people are doing from being traumatic. They have willingly taken on a difficult, dangerous and risky role as a vocation, to help other people. But we can build solid infrastructures to support them so that when it gets too much – which it undoubtedly will – we have their back – we know how to help them – and we can support them back to full health.

“As police budgets are squeezed, welfare is one of the first things to be reduced when it should be protected at all costs…It is a failure of our service when this critical area is neglected.”

Other speakers at the conference include chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Gavin Stephens QPM, College of Policing chief executive, Sir Andy Marsh QPM, and Michelle Skeer, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.