Written evidence from the Metropolitan Police Federation
‘The Normington Report’ of the PFEW
1. Executive Summary
1.1 The MPF welcomes the Home Affairs Select Committee’s inquiry into the Normington Report of the PFEW. We understand that the Police Federation needs reform, and Normington presents opportunities to effect many necessary changes that, if undertaken properly, and in the right areas, will result in a leaner, more efficient Police Federation. Clearly, transparency and accountability in PFEW finances is a key factor in delivering first class representation for our members, both to demonstrate value for money and to ensure all dispersed funds and expenditure stand scrutiny and audit.
1.2 It is important to remember the achievements of the PFEW, which have largely been overlooked in the media reports following the publication of the Normington report. We have made huge strides forwards in the most important areas of representation for our members, from health and safety and equipment, to improvements to pay and conditions, pensions and welfare and efficiency. This has contributed significantly to the reason why UK policing has an enviably high worldwide reputation.
1.3 These achievements have helped to ensure policing in England and Wales is regarded as ethical, professional and overwhelmingly free of corruption. The principles of protecting the public, tackling crime and serving local communities must remain paramount. Whatever the outcomes with the current reform programme, we all have a duty to ensure that our Federation continues to provide support such that our members’ interests are safeguarded and their voice is heard, enabling them to continue to uphold the highest of standards in their professional lives.
1.4 I cannot speak for the National Federation but only the Metropolitan Police Federation, and therefore this submission is focused on those areas that are of particular interest to the MPF.
2. The Metropolitan Police Federation
2.1 The Metropolitan Police Federation represents one fifth of all serving police officers in England Wales. The Federation promotes their welfare, helping ensure the Metropolitan Police Service operates to the highest professional standards, and ensures it is fully accountable to the serving officer.
2.2 London is the political, economic and media capital of the UK, and is a truly international city continually in the global spotlight. As such, it poses unique challenges for policing and, whilst every police force has its own set of challenging issues, the pressures, scrutiny and difficulties faced by London's police force are often greater than anywhere else in the country. London is usually the first city to face political demonstrations and terrorist attacks, and it has been proven time and again that what happens in London can affect the rest of the country.
2.3 As the body which represents over 30,000 serving police officers, the Metropolitan Police Federation is an organisation which speaks with authority to the public, to media and Government about issues important to policing in the 21st century.
2.4 The Federation offers consultation on service policy across a wide range of activities, from the police use of firearms to officer training, employment practice, to career development. The Federation uses its expertise to advise and help the Service continuously raise standards of policing across London and across all operations.
3. Police Federation Reform
3.1 My members embrace reform. The Metropolitan Police Federation very much welcomes the Normington report in as much it sets the agenda for reform. It would be extraordinary if, after 95 years, anyone could seriously advance the case that it was not timely to review our structures. We need to make them better to reflect our members' views and interests, and meet the challenges of the dynamic and ever changing police role and functions of the 21st century. Normington came up with some 36 recommendations for reform. Many of these recommendations are either simple to adopt and/or readily acceptable.
3.2 However, as Normington himself acknowledged, some proposals will need further consideration and time to digest, as well as identifying the best way forward. We are determined to work on these and envisage a staged/timetable for reform and restructuring.
3.3 Change to the Police Federation must be measured, credible and seen to benefit all members. The solution must do two things. It must not lead to under representation of any group, particularly the 77% of the membership who are constables. At the same time, it must be sensitive of the need to reassure all ranks, up to Chief Inspector, that their interests are properly represented. This will take time, as we must ensure that it is the members who decide on the future of their organisation. To do this, we must have a proper process of consultation on the recommendations.
3.4 The facilities granted to the Federation are in line with Codes of Practice approved by Parliament. They follow what is recognised throughout as ‘good industrial relations practice’, whether in the public or private sector.
3.5 The Police Federation asks for nothing more than parity with those others who are involved in industrial relations. Indeed, such facilities are, rightly, a matter for review and discussion by each Federation and their own police commissioner and /or Chief Constable.
3.6 For our part, in the Met these are regularly jointly reviewed. We do not, and never have, seen them set in stone. Indeed, as I have already indicated, the proposals for ending the rank structure would, if agreed, make a significant saving.
3.7 I should also like to point out that we do not have our office accommodation provided by the Metropolitan Police. Its cost is paid for wholly by our membership.
3.8 We rebut the inference that there is widespread disillusionment of the Federation amongst its members. Yes, morale is low, but this largely due to dysfunctional management at the top of policing, constant reorganisation, and the erosion of our members pay and conditions of service. It is an inescapable fact, of which we are proud, that over 95% of the Metropolitan Federated Ranks voluntarily subscribe to Federation membership.
3.9 Such a percentage of membership is what General Secretaries of other representative organisations, Staff Associations and Trade Unions would or could only dream of. Nevertheless, as I have already indicated, we are not complacent and for this reason we embrace the opportunity and ideas for both change and renewal.
3.10 It is not always understood, either by friends or critics, that the Federation is precisely a "federation". It is not a unitary organisation. Parliament determined this structure in its founding statute in 1919. Subsequently, Parliament has reaffirmed this constitutional model for police representation in subsequent legislation.
3.11 Normington does not suggest this should be changed, nor do we. The Federation of England and Wales is made up of no less than 43 independent federations; based on each separate force.
4. MPF and the Normington Report
4.1 I want to make it clear, as Normington recognised, that the Metropolitan Police Federation has full transparency of its financial affairs; including the publication of expenses etc. It does not have what has become known as ‘Number 2 accounts’.
4.2 Notwithstanding this, we continue to review our financial standing orders and controls, to see if there are any additional measures we can take to enhance their scope, or provide for additional transparency and openness.
4.3 The MPF is in a unique position to recognise issues from both the strategic and operational perspectives. As such, the MPF believes that we should be a visible part of the decision making process when it comes to reform and modernisation. It is also crucial that someone has oversight of the cumulative impact of these reforms.
5. Conclusion
5.1 The MPF shares the Government’s appetite for reform, and we have been consistent in our approach to the issue of change to the Police Federation. We believe this can be done from a position of strength, because our Federation is not in crisis as has been the misconception because of such overwhelming negative press following Normington.
5.2 The urgency of progressing PFEW reform, however, must not lead to unintended consequences, and we must ensure that each of Normington’s recommendations is given careful consideration, and is subject to debate and approval by our members. We can ill afford rushing the whole report through for the sake of expediency, but instead we must ensure that each recommendation has positive consequences and enhances or improves the future Federation for all of our members.
5.3 The MPF will help in any way to achieve a modern, fit for purpose Police Federation, and we will continue to be steadfast in delivering the most efficient, effective and best representation for our members.
Metropolitan Police Federation
March 2014