Colleagues,
Thank you for engaging with last month’s guest blog, and thanks to Siobhan Root and the Wellbeing Team for writing it. There will be more to come on the topic of wellbeing. A lot has happened in the Federation, within the force, and in the wider policing environment since my last post, so I hope this update will be of interest.
The thin blue line
In the last few days, West Yorkshire Police confirmed that PC Charlie Mitchell had been found dead after being reported missing the night before. At a similar time, Gloucestershire Police reported that PC Ian Minett died while on duty, and the Metropolitan Police confirmed PC Michael Bruce had also died while on duty.
These are huge losses for these three forces and for policing more widely. PC Mitchell, PC Minett and PC Bruce’s families, friends and colleagues are very much in our thoughts.
Anniversary of the 7/7 bombings
Next month brings the 20th anniversary of the 7 July bombings. Four suicide bombers struck London's transport network, killing 52 people and injuring over 770 others. The aftermath saw our BTP colleagues work tirelessly, with many engaged in traumatic tasks.
It’s with this in mind that I wish to remind all colleagues of the support available in force, via the Federation and from the various police charities. Anniversaries of significant events can bring a range of emotions to the surface; this is both understandable and completely normal. As this key date in our shared history approaches, I wanted to provide a link to sources of comfort and support, and remind you that we are always happy to offer a listening ear and signpost you to help.
Government Spending Review
The recent spending review delivered by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has quite rightly caught the eye. I don’t think there will be a single person associated with policing who would welcome what will be spent on policing as set out in the review. I also don’t think that there will be a single person associated with policing who would be surprised by what will be spent on policing.
Review after review, budget after budget, government after government, we fail to get what we truly require and what we deserve.
It’s beyond breaking point with so many things. I hate making comparisons, but what other profession is continually affected in this way? There is no other job quite like this where the demands are such that we are all things to all people. The first port of call for everything.
The question we have to ask now is what our government, politicians, press, and even policing authorities want us to give up.
What do they want us to stop doing? I say this, and it truly saddens me: we can’t keep continuing with these demands on us. The expectation is that we can deal with everything from terror attacks to lost property and everything in between. If you want us to handle everything, ensure you provide us with the correct support to do so.
OPM
On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the Force presented proposed roster changes to police posts in B, C, and D Divisions following the implementation of the Optimised Policing Model (OPM). The force’s consultation process with affected officers was outlined.
We have now agreed that the proposed changes comply with the Working Time Agreement (WTA). The original plan was to implement all rosters in September of this year. As a Federation, we felt that this made very little sense. It creates more unease, can impact those who have booked leave, and could be problematic for those who have made plans for the festive period. Our view was to see out 2025 in the current roster and start a new roster in the new year. Our officers will also be able to plan their 2026 year accordingly for their new roster.
I’m pleased that, following our suggestion, the vast majority of rosters will be implemented as of 1 January 2026. There will be some rosters that will be changed before that due to operational requirements; our understanding is that this will be minor.
I’d like to thank ACC Drummond Smith for taking the time to consider the above and showing his support to our members by agreeing with our considerations.
On 18 June 2025, Crime and Public Protection commenced their consultation with officers and staff as a result of the force reset and budgetary constraints. I recognise that this may be a challenging and uncertain period, and some members may be affected by these decisions. I strongly emphasise the importance of engaging with the process. If you disagree with the proposed suggestions, please submit counterproposals and contact your local representative for any support you may need.
These changes are difficult for many of you, make no mistake. We can’t do more with less, and my fear is that this puts a real strain on the force. It’s another example of the budget concerns written about in this blog.
Meeting with the Rail Minister
Budgets and finances were firmly on the agenda when I had the opportunity to have an initial meeting with the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond, this month. Those who read this blog regularly will be aware that I’ve mentioned previously how keen I was for engagement with the Rail Minister. I, therefore, welcomed the opportunity to visit his office for an introduction. To provide some context to these meetings, due to Lord Hendy’s schedule, we were able to secure a 30-minute meeting. It can be quite challenging in that short window to not only carry out the introductions but to raise any points that we feel are pertinent.
However, we covered a lot of ground, not least because, as a veteran of the railways, Lord Hendy was more than familiar with BTP’s work. Items that we discussed included the budget - both last year's ‘challenging’ budget - and looking ahead to this year’s budget, and I was able to share my views that the force simply needs more support this year. We can’t continue to face the challenges that are resulting in station closures, staff losing their roles, and exceptional colleagues leaving the Force.
We also discussed both officer assaults and assaults on rail staff, and the impact this can have, not only physically but also mentally. We even found time to discuss advances in technology, including the use of body-worn cameras and drones. We know that these are fantastic additions for the force. They do, however, have to be seen as additional support, not as a replacement for frontline staff.
It really struck me in the meeting just how impressed Lord Hendy is with those within BTP. He does seem to value the Force and was happy to share just how unique we are.
Political engagement of this nature is essential; we believe decision-makers should hear thoughts from the frontline, and this was a welcome opportunity to put forward some of your concerns. I look forward to further engagement with the Rail Minister and thank him for his time.
Meeting with RMT
Shortly before I met with the Rail Minister I was able to secure a meeting with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers (RMT).
On a daily basis, members of this Federation and RMT work together to keep the public safe, keep the industry running, and help ensure each other gets home safely. The amount of information you can glean from the rail staff we work with really shouldn’t he underestimated. We can help each other on occasion, and it’s vital that we engage with them.
What was particularly interesting to note was just how disappointed those within RMT were with last year’s budget settlement. They could see first-hand the negative impact that it has on the force, the railway, and all those connected with it.
We have committed to working closely with one another and will be able to share vital pieces of information, including officer assaults and assaults on rail staff. We have many common goals and it can only be of benefit to everyone.
Management Board Meeting
Reps from across the country spent the day at the Federation office in West Dulwich this month for the second of three Management Board meetings we hold each year. The Management Board comprises the Chairs and Secretaries from each Division, or their representatives if they are unable to attend.
The bulk of the meeting is given over to discussing their work on their divisions, with each providing an update on cases (no personal details are shared) and how they’re working to resolve them. Some cases are escalated to the Exec Team if efforts to address them locally have been exhausted.
Some items mentioned included: frustrations with how long PSD investigations are taking, lack of updates from PSD, H&S related matters where some offices appear to be not fit for purpose, concerns around Use of Force Dept, locker room issues at Buckingham Palace Road and the shifts officers are having to work ahead of being cited for court.
There were also a lot of positives. On the whole, divisional reps meet, or have the opportunity to meet, with Force management on a regular basis. This means issues can be addressed before they become significant. We can’t always share success stories due to confidentiality, but we heard several good examples from your representatives.
It’s important that our members and this Federation have an attachment, both divisionally and nationally, and I encourage anyone with any issues to please reach out to their local committees. You can find out who your committees are here.
If you do raise any issues, my expectation is that you will receive an update on how the matter has been resolved, as well as any remaining outstanding actions.
Station visits
On a similar theme, I am working on the dates and venues for the next round of Federation station visits. We’re planning on returning to Scotland, heading over to Wales and the Midlands, and spending some time in B-Division South. Committees in each of those areas are helping us to finalise dates and locations. These will be advertised via internal circular and on our website and social media channels.
These sessions work best when the maximum number of officers can attend and when those officers share their views honestly. We want to hear directly from you about what’s good and what’s difficult.
Mid-service course
The next BTP mid-career course, facilitated by Police Mutual, will be held on 2 July from 9am until 1pm. Retirement might feel a long way off for some of us, but starting to look at your position around 10 years beforehand means being better informed about your pension, future finances, and what you need to do to prepare for a new career.
Topics covered during these sessions will include:
Planning, budgeting & financial prioritisation
Police pension scheme and what you can expect
Financial planning for now and retirement
Career planning and future lifestyle
Wills and estate planning
Action planning
The course will be delivered virtually through MS Teams with duty time given, subject to approval from your line manager. If you can't make 2 July, the next course will be held on 19 November. To book a place, simply email seminars@pmas.co.uk
And finally, win tickets to Ascot
Member service company Police Insure is offering one lucky winner two tickets to The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Raceday on Saturday, 9 August 2025. Plus, you’ll get tickets to the post-race concert; the line-up includes Perrie (ex-Little Mix), DJ Joel Corry and Marvin Humes (ex JLS).
Good luck! You have until 13 July 2025 to register your entry here.
Stuart Cowan, Chair of BTP Federation