New Fed HQ: “A professional, member-safe environment”

THE new Essex Police Federation office has been described as a “member-safe environment” – due to its location not being shared with force headquarters.

The new building in the heart of Chelmsford replaces the force owned house the Federation has been using for its offices. Pictured at the new Fed HQ are (left to right) secretary Monty Montgomery, office manager Trish Morley and chairman Mark Smith.

Mr Montgomery said: “We wanted a bolt hole – a safe environment where officers could come – bearing in mind some of them come to us when they are under the effects of stress, where they are being investigated for misconduct, they could be suspended, so we wanted somewhere away from police headquarters where officers could feel safe and non-threatened and where we could do a good job.

“And that is what we feel we have in the current premises.”

As well as office space for federation officials and staff, the new Federation building features a large conference room as well as two private meeting rooms for members and any family or legal representatives to meet federation representatives.

The office has been purchased outright by Federation funds following a decision by the Essex Police Federation Joint Branch Board – elected constables, sergeants and inspectors representatives.

The previous Federation offices were in a former house on force headquarters – with office space in bedrooms. The building was owned by the force/taxpayer and federation members had to walk through force headquarters to get to the building.

Mr Montgomery said the new office “is somewhere where an officer who is off sick for stress or is being investigated for misconduct or even a criminal offence can come to a premises that is away from police headquarters.”

He added: “They are not having to walk through headquarters estate to get to our building and by not doing so they are not bumping into people that work in professional standards, or a boss that they have got an issue with, or have taken a grievance out against. When they come to our new offices, they don’t have to worry about it being police premises. So it means if an officer is suspended from duty, they can come to us without having to ask permission.”

Mr Smith, who emphasised that the property was an investment on behalf of current and future members, added: “The difference is… you are in a professional, member-safe environment, away from headquarters, in an environment where the professional standards department can’t just walk in unannounced or see you talking to us.”