Essex Police Federation is “committed to change”

A NEW era of Police Federation Chairs and Secretaries across the country are pushing for change and reform on the back of the Independent Review of the organisation.

That is the view of Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, (pictured) who spoke out following a critical TV documentary on the national organisation.

He said Essex Police Federation is “committed to change”.

Mr Smith said: “Monty Montgomery (Essex JBB Secretary) and I have attended 5 meetings with the Chairs and Secretaries from across the country to discuss the 36 recommendations in the Normington review and good progress is being made.

“The process has also included consultation and feedback from the Essex JBB, which is all Reps of all ranks in Essex. Other Force Federations have done the same. The push for reform is still receiving some resistance from various areas of Leatherhead [PFEW headquarters] but they are few and we are many.

“The Chairs and Secretaries from across the country are working hard to turn the recommendations into Motions for this year’s Conference [in Bournemouth in May] and we hope that, with all the hard work done prior to May, the Motions should pass with very little resistance.

“The changes must be in the best interest of our members as it is they we are accountable to. Some of the recommendations have been changed but they still remain in the spirit of the original recommendation, but in a form that will work.”

Mr Smith emphasised that “it was the Federation that requested this report, not the Government.”

He added: “The Federation both nationally and locally needs to be more accountable to its members with greater transparency and communication. The recommendations and motions we are taking to Conference this year do just this.

“A new National Chair will also be elected at the end of Conference and the new Chair, whoever they may be, needs to continue with the reform and push forward with change.

“There is no question that the Federation must change and my intention as the Essex Federation Chair is to implement the changes agreed at this year’s Conference during my three year triennial period.”

Mr Montgomery added: “Essex Police Federation does not have a Number 2 Account, and has not had one for many years. All of our money is put through one account, and the use of that money is determined by Regulations, Trustees and an Auditor.

“Mark and I have attended various National meetings, where we have both made our commitment to the change process. We have also used our influence on other members of the National Chairs and Secretaries and of the JCC to try and persuade them all to see the benefit of Reform, and the dangers of not.”