In the third of three posts we look back on some of the key developments in policing during 2022.
Former chief constable of Greater Manchester Sir Peter Fahy took to the airwaves in October to warn that some forces were struggling to even deliver basic services because the demands placed upon them had become too great. “At the moment most frontline operational officers are very frustrated that they can’t concentrate on crime and criminals because they are picking up lots of other jobs as well, covering for social services and mental health services,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
A team of Staffordshire officers battled 70mph winds to make it to the summit of Snowdon and raise £1,000 for Hanley-based charity Men Unite, to fund a counsellor for men in crisis who would otherwise be forced to wait weeks for an NHS referral. The intrepid walkers were led by husband-and-wife team Robert and Helen Kelsall and tackled the 1,085-metre peak on 17 October despite the howling gales.
PC Rich Lymer teamed-up with local football clubs and organisations to help tackle hate crime ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. He spent nine seasons working at Burton Albion matches and was assigned as the Force’s new football hate crime officer. “It’s been quite eye-opening seeing how much hate crime actually takes place - and it’s happening to the players, the fans, the staff, the referees,” said Rich.
The Federation’s wellbeing lead Claire Bond used World Menopause Day to encourage all officers to learn about how menopause can affect people’s lives. “Menopause directly affects half of the population but there’s still a stigma attached to it,” she said. “For some people the symptoms can be debilitating. It can really affect them at home and at work.”
In November, Staffordshire was found to be one of the safer counties, despite data showing a 15 per cent rise in crime and 33% increase in sexual offences over 12 months to June. There were 69.5 offences per 1,000 population here, with only seven other forces having a lower crime rate. Lee Robinson, commenting for the Federation, said: “While it’s really disappointing to see crime in Staffordshire rising, the Office for National Statistics’ figures are comparing periods when we were under lockdowns. The hard work of our members with their communities ensures that Staffordshire remains among the safest places in the country in which to live.”
Sixteen Police and Crime Commissioners signed a letter to the Home Secretary warning that nearly one in ten officers were studying rather than fighting crime on the frontlines. They argued that regulations requiring new recruits to undertake the equivalent of a policing degree was responsible, and likely to deter the non-academically minded from applying to join the police.
Suella Braverman criticised policing as “woke” and “politically correct”. She made the comment in a speech to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The Home Secretary praised Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson, saying “he rejects woke policing and embraces a back-to-basics approach”. Fed chair Lee Robinson called Ms Braverman’s comments divisive.
Razwana Nasheen and Gurvinder Khosa, both vice-chairs of the Force’s Multicultural Association (MCA), won a national award for their anti-racism work. It followed Staffordshire winning the title of ‘Police Force of the Year’ at the Black Police Association conference. “Equality isn’t just about people who are from protected groups, it’s about making sure everyone is treated fairly and has a fair chance,” said Raz.
The Ministry of Justice and National Police Chiefs’ Council caused a stir in early December when they suggested that 400 police cells could be used to ease overcrowding in prisons. Federation chair Lee Robinson condemned the idea as likely to place police officers, prisoners, and the public at risk. He said: “Police cells are not prison cells and police officers are not trained to be prison officers and yet here we are again being asked to take on more work we are not qualified to do.”
Our wellbeing lead Claire Bond set out plans for ‘Wounded Blue Line’, a one-stop shop which would provide injured frontline workers with vital information and advice on issues such as benefit entitlement and support, they can claim while off work. Claire suffered horrendous injuries when she was rammed by a car when she tried to stop an out-of-control driver near the route of the Stafford 10K in September 2018. She said: “When I was injured and in hospital and then getting better at home we went through quite a lot of learning curves - what benefits we were entitled to, what we could claim for, who could help us etc - but generally I had no one to talk to who had been through anything similar.”
