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Police Federation
About the Federation
The Police Federation is a staff association (not, as the media might suggest 'a police union') and we represent most officers in British Transport Police, including Special Constables. Our members hold every rank from Constable to Chief Inspector. Our remit is broad; defined in the Police Act 1964 as "welfare and efficiency". This means we can act on a huge range of issues relating our members or the force such as pay, pensions, allowances and leave, and conditions of service.
BTP Federation is governed by a constitution, which you can read here.
We can provide free legal advice and representation for many issues including criminal, discipline, traffic and personal injury. We can also provide legal advice and representation for unlawful discrimination and pension appeals.
Under the Federation Fund Rules we can provide:
- Free legal advice for members facing criminal proceedings when on duty
- Advice and assistance when giving evidence at inquests
- Welfare advice and assistance for personal issues
- Legal advice to members charged with an offence while driving on duty
- Legal advice and representation for discipline issues
- Advice by a trained 'friend' for all discipline matters
- Advice and assistance with civil claims and Industrial Injuries claims
- Personal Public Liability cover
- Assist with Fairness at Work issues
- Advice and assistance for sexual, racial or other discriminatory harassment
- Support defamation proceedings (in certain circumstances) on behalf of members
- Provide representation at Employment Tribunals
- Give pensions advice
This list is not exhaustive. We may not be able to resolve every dispute and problem as our members might wish but where there is justification to intervene, we will do our very best. Alongside the core services we provide, we also arrange member services such as the Group Insurance Policy.
At force level the Federation is represented within the Senior Management Team, at force JNCC, the Health and Safety Co-ordinating Committee, the National Negotiating Meeting (NMM), Professional Standards Committee, and Strategic Welfare.
The Chairman and General Secretary are members of the United Kingdom Police Remuneration Forum (UKPRF) which covers aspects of pay reform as well as matters concerning the management of police forces and professional subjects such as recruitment, training, promotion, discipline, police strengths and operational systems.
The Federation is divided into seven Divisional Committees. Each Divisional Committee appoints their Chairman and Secretary along with delegates to look after welfare and health and safety as well as dealing with local management on matters affecting their members. The Secretary and Chairman of each division meet three times a year along with the three National officers as the Management Board. All delegates meet once a year at Annual Conference to form policy for the Federation.
It is essential that the Federation is properly financed, and this is the main purpose of levying subscriptions. Funds are used to provide legal assistance to our members, to provide a service to the Divisions and information to the membership. Funds maintain our office at Dulwich where we employ two members of staff. To assist in correctly maintaining our funding we retain the services of specialist accountants and receive regular advice from our bankers.