Branch chair Nick Munnelly has reacted to what’s being called the ‘biggest shake-up’ in the history of policing.
His comments come after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday (Monday 26 January) revealed a White Paper, ‘From local to national: a new model for policing,’ to the House of Commons.
The White Paper sets out proposals for reform, designed to ‘modernise the service, improve efficiency and address long-standing challenges’.
While Nick recognises the need to strengthen policing, he emphasises that every Force, every community, is complex, different and comes with its own set of priorities.
Branch chair Nick Munnelly.
And for that reason, the proposed reform requires more than just a ‘blanket approach’. Instead, it should vitally involve full engagement from officers on the ground, as well as senior leaders, representative bodies and members of the public.
“The White Paper sets out proposals for reform at a time when change is long overdue. For far too long, policing has been underfunded and under-resourced, and it is no coincidence that public confidence has eroded since 2010, when the service was largely forgotten by successive governments,” says Nick.
White Paper
“There are parts of the White Paper that identify positive steps forward, including increased resources, better funding, and opportunities for greater efficiency across the country. These are welcome developments.
“However, policing is complex, and each community – and each police force -has its own unique needs and priorities. Any proposal that will directly impact members and the community must involve full engagement with our officers, senior leaders, representative bodies, and the public.
“We also need to see the outcomes of the independent review and consultation before any firm decisions are made.”
The White Paper proposed a licence to practise, an area that Nick is ‘seriously concerned about.’
“Given the current pressures already on policing, I have serious concerns around officers needing a licence to practise,” he explained.
“Across many forces, including Northumbria, we already struggle to facilitate mandatory training for our members. Officers often attend training on rest days, or training is cancelled entirely to meet operational demands.
Members are frequently compelled to prioritise court appearances or urgent work over their own professional development. Introducing a licence to practise in these conditions would set our officers up to fail.
Wellbeing
“Before such a system is considered, protected learning time and adequate resources must be in place to enable officers to meet the highest standards without compromising their wellbeing.”
Nick added that while ongoing learning and development are essential to ensuring best practise and safeguarding for both officers and the public, any additional training must be ‘realistic’ and ‘achievable’.
He said: “The police reform should address the practical realities of policing – the burden on officers, the lack of training, and the need for proper equipment and support – so that members can do their jobs effectively and safely, without burnout or undue stress.
“With careful, engaged, and evidence-based implementation, reform can be positive. But it must be done in a way that recognises the real challenges our members face every day, and ensures they are equipped, supported, and protected as they serve their communities.”
As part of the reform, it is also being proposed that the number of police forces across England and Wales will be ‘dramatically reduced’. The goal is to cut duplication, save money and reduce fragmentation.
Merging
Nick said: “The idea of merging police forces must be approached carefully, considering where efficiencies can genuinely be achieved without undermining local policing.
“We must remember that there are so many questions left unanswered here. Merging could be a positive for smaller forces struggling to meet growing demands, but the specific needs of each force must be central to the discussion.”
Nick is encouraging members to engage with the Federation and have their say on the White Paper proposals.
“For the Federation to efficiently and effectively represent our members, we need to hear from you. Please get in touch and let us know how you feel about the proposals set out by the Government,” he said.
“Without your feedback, we can’t give an accurate representation of our members and their views.”