THE CHAIRMAN of Cumbria Police Federation has called for less talk and more action after hearing a speech from the Home Secretary.

The Police Federation of England and Wales held its annual conference in Manchester on Tuesday and Home Secretary Priti Patel was in attendance to deliver a speech.

As the Government’s UK security tsar, Ms Patel’s message to federation members was that she is standing “squarely with you, our police.”

The Home Secretary thanked members of the federation for their “incredible work” and pledged to help the force to be “the best it can possible be, the most rewarding profession and a first class public service.”

Conference attendees heard a speech from the new Police Federation of England and Wales chairman Steve Hartshorn.

Mr Hartshorn gave an account of the struggles officers are facing under the police pay freeze.

Following Ms Patel’s speech, chairman of the Cumbria branch Paul Williams said: “The response from the Home Secretary was very meek, very mild. She gave the usual words of respect, the usual words of praise for our officers and policing.

“However, she did allude to engaging now with the new chair, she did allude to having conversations around the table with the new chair and bringing in PRRB, the pay review body.

Mr Williams said: “I think the next step is to wait and see. As the Home Secretary said, this isn’t going to happen overnight, we’re very passionate about it so we’re not going away so what we hope to see is not words but action over the coming months and seeing how that effects our pay.”  

The police federation is the staff association representing and campaigning for sergeants, constables and inspectors.

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Commenting on the changes she has made since taking the Home Secretary’s seat on the frontbench, Mr Patel said: “So you’ve heard me and you’ve heard others in government speak about the 20,000 extra recruits. To me, this isn’t just the number. It is actually an infusement and an investment in new talent, the foundations of policing for generations to come.

“I also recognise the fact that of course many of you wear a uniform, but your backgrounds and experiences are far from uniform. And I think that is one of the greatest joys of policing. And it’s crucial that we continue to shape police forces that represent the community that are the best crime-fighting, protective organisations - but also proactive organisations.”

Ms Patel said that she is one of the politicians who “put people first.”
“So the reforms that I have driven in the last two and a half years - working with the federation, working with policing leaders, working with the National Policing Board - have all been based upon that belief.”

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