Backing for right to strike

The majority of Police Federation members questioned in a recent poll have backed the right by officers to take strike action.

A total of 86 per cent of the 60,572 respondents said they wanted the Federation to start to lobby on their behalf for full industrial rights. A total of 11 per cent said ‘no’ and the rest were not sure.

Federation chairman Jan Berry revealed that 93 per cent of the respondents to the MORI survey urged the Government to stand by the decisions made by the independent pay body.

Mrs Berry said: “I do not see this as a vote to strike – yet.

“This to me says that police officers want binding independent arbitration. Strange, the Prime Minister and education secretary said recently that independent arbitration should be honoured – maybe they have listened. But police officers expect their MPs to support this.”

Mrs Berry, who is retiring from her post at the end of conference, said that one of the first jobs for the new Joint Central Committee, in consultation with the 43 Joint Branch Boards, will be to decide how best to take this forward, not only from an England and Wales perspective but taking account of its negotiating partners across the UK.

“Whatever the future may hold, one thing remains clear – policing is still an extremely tough job,” she said.

As Police Professional went to press, a newly-elected Joint Central Committee (JCC) elected a new chairman, general secretary and treasurers together with their deputies.

Mrs Berry urged her organisation to ensure an effective hand over.

“The greater good of the membership of our organisation must override the personal aspirations of any individuals. We must look at our rules and how we do business to ensure we never find ourselves in this position again.”

Mrs Berry said she was “intensely proud” to have led a “vibrant confident and powerful organisation for the last six years”.

“For so many of the 89 years the Federation has been around it has been a time of constant challenge and renewal.”

Outgoing federation chairman Jan Berry urged her organisation not to focus solely on pay and conditions, the modernisation of the service, the rapidly evolving requirements of training and equipment and on press releases, headlines and meeting politicians.

“Take time to look internally too,” she said.

“We must challenge what we do. So when we publicly caution about the problems of delivering ‘national policing’ we must also consider what national standards delivered at a local level means for the Federation.”

Mrs Berry said that infighting and collective insecurity will only succeed in diverting energy away from being there for its members and allowing officers to get on with their jobs. In a world of tightening budgets – they must work together.

“The easiest thing in the world is for us to stand apart, highlighting and magnifying difference – the sign of real strength is working together, listening to each other valuing our minority views and concerns – to show moderation, conviction and fairness is the way to show real leadership.”

Mrs Berry urged the committe to “take nothing for granted”.

“Our strength is in our unity, across ranks, across forces, across the United Kingdom and beyond these shores – change is inevitable if we are to remain the force of persuasion.

Mrs Berry also announced that the National Memorial Day to remember dead officers will be on Sunday September 28, in Liverpool.

nThe widow of murdered father Gary Newlove has spoken about the devastating effect that the death of her husband has had on their family.

Mr Newlove was kicked to death outside his Cheshire home by three youths who kicked him like a football. One of the men Adam Swellings, 19, was only released from custody on the day of the attack with one of his bail conditions being that he did not go to Warrington.

Helen Newlove took part in the Police Federation deb