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MPs demand reform of Police Federation after bullying disclosures MPs demand reform of Police Federation after bullying disclosures
(35 minutes later)
Ministers have demanded urgent reforms to the Police Federation – which represents 130,000 officers – in the wake of fresh disclosures of a culture of bullying, and secret bank accounts in the organisation. Ministers have demanded urgent reforms of the Police Federation – which represents 130,000 officers – in the wake of fresh disclosures of a culture of bullying, and secret bank accounts in the organisation.
The call follows an inquiry by MPs which found bullying on "a scale to rival any popular soap opera" endemic within the highest reaches of the federation, with both its last chairman and the outgoing current chairman subjected to systematic campaigns of abuse. An inquiry by MPs found bullying on "a scale to rival any popular soap opera" endemic within the highest reaches of the federation, with both its last chairman and the outgoing current chairman subjected to systematic campaigns of abuse.
"The police minister, Damian Green, said that the events in the Police Federation had led to it being seen as secretive, dysfunctional and having a 'culture of secrecy' that had damaged public support for the police as a whole. The police minister, Damian Green, said the Police Federation was seen as secretive, dysfunctional and having a "culture of secrecy", which had damaged public support for the police as a whole.
"The police have great powers to arrest and detain people. They therefore have a huge responsibility in all aspects of their job to behave responsibly, transparently and effectively. What the Police Federation have done over the past few years is damage that reputation. That is why it is so important we have root and branch reform of the federation." "The police have great powers to arrest and detain people. They therefore have a huge responsibility in all aspects of their job to behave responsibly, transparently and effectively. What the Police Federation have done over the past few years is damage that reputation. That is why it is so important we have root and branch reform of the federation," he said.
Green said that the federation had to take its opportunity next week to create a "an open, transparent body representing rank and file officers". He said that a recent survey had shown that 91% of police officers wanted change but fewer than 30% of them thought the federation could change. Green said the federation had to take its opportunity next week – at its annual conference – to create a "an open, transparent body representing rank and file officers". He said a recent survey had shown that 91% of police officers wanted change but fewer than 30% of them thought the federation could change.
The Commons home affairs committee's report also criticises the decision by the federation to hire radio "shock jock" and PR consultant Jon Gaunt to orchestrate a campaign using "blitzkrieg" and "guerrilla" tactics in the aftermath of the Plebgate affair, as a serious error of judgment that damaged its reputation. The Commons home affairs committee's report criticises the federation's decision to hire the radio "shock jock" and PR consultant Jon Gaunt to orchestrate a campaign using "blitzkrieg" and "guerrilla" tactics in the aftermath of the Plebgate affair. The committee said this was "a serious error of judgment".
During the inquiry Gaunt admitted to MPs that he saw the Plebgate affair – in which the then chief whip Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling police officers plebs during an altercation at the gates of Downing Street – as an "absolutely fantastic opportunity" to promote the federation's political agenda. One officer has been jailed and three others dismissed as a result of the affair. During the inquiry Gaunt admitted to MPs that he saw the Plebgate affair – in which the then chief whip, Andrew Mitchell, was accused of calling police officers plebs during an altercation at the gates of Downing Street – as an "absolutely fantastic opportunity" to promote the federation's political agenda. One officer has been jailed and three others dismissed as a result of the affair.
The MPs' inquiry says that the "era of bullying and secret accounts" within the organisation must be brought to an end. The report is published in advance of next week's annual conference of the federation where delegates will be asked to endorse a radical reform of the organisation. The MPs say if that is not taken forward voluntarily then the home secretary, Theresa May, should impose it by legislation. The MPs' report says the "era of bullying and secret accounts" within the organisation must be brought to an end. At next week's annual conference of the federation, delegates will be asked to endorse a radical reform of the organisation. The MPs say if that is not taken forward voluntarily then the home secretary, Theresa May, should impose it by legislation.
Keith Vaz, the committee chairman, said: "We were shocked by the scale of bullying that we found at the federation's headquarters. It rivals any popular soap opera. It is disgraceful that any chairman should have been hounded out for championing the long-overdue reforms. Only a new national chair elected directly by the members will have the authority to implement these changes in full."Keith Vaz, the committee chairman, said: "We were shocked by the scale of bullying that we found at the federation's headquarters. It rivals any popular soap opera. It is disgraceful that any chairman should have been hounded out for championing the long-overdue reforms. Only a new national chair elected directly by the members will have the authority to implement these changes in full."
Vaz said that the organisation needed to introduce complete financial transparency to remove all suspicion about so-called number two accounts held by some local branches and forming part of reserves thought to contain up to £70m in funds. The MPs say that every police officer should get an immediate rebate of nearly £120 and their subscriptions should be frozen for one year. Vaz said the organisation needed to introduce complete financial transparency to remove all suspicion about so-called number two accounts held by some local branches and forming part of reserves thought to contain up to £70m in funds. The MPs say that every police officer should get an immediate rebate of nearly £120 and their subscriptions should be frozen for a year.
The report says the treatment by some elements in the federation of successive national chairmen has been disgraceful: "Steve Williams's [the current chairman who has announced his resignation] tenure has been characterised by persistent attempts to undermine and destabilise him by bullying and personal attacks, and it seems on the basis of our evidence that Paul McKeever, who died in office, was probably subject to similar treatment." The report says the treatment by some elements in the federation of successive national chairmen has been disgraceful: "Steve Williams's [the current chairman, who has announced his resignation] tenure has been characterised by persistent attempts to undermine and destabilise him by bullying and personal attacks, and it seems on the basis of our evidence that Paul McKeever, who died in office, was probably subject to similar treatment."
The committee said successive federation chairmen have become "enmired in interminable internecine power-struggles that would not have been out of place in a medieval court". The committee said successive federation chairmen had become "enmired in interminable internecine power struggles that would not have been out of place in a medieval court".
In written evidence to the MPs' inquiry, four former federation officials allege they had been victims of sustained abuse and bullying by the general secretary, Ian Rennie, who is also resigning next week, and an adviser. In written evidence to the MPs' inquiry, four former federation officials alleged that they had been victims of sustained abuse and bullying by the general secretary, Ian Rennie, who is also resigning next week, and an adviser.
An email drafted by Williams but not sent, published by the committee, adds: "We all saw what happened to our friend and colleague, Paul McKeever, and with a young family I do not intend to let the same thing happen to me," he said referring to his predecessor as federation chairman. An email drafted by Williams but not sent, published by the committee, said: "We all saw what happened to our friend and colleague, Paul McKeever, and with a young family I do not intend to let the same thing happen to me."
Rennie responded to the allegations of bullying in a statement: "The evidence is disputed and was disputed when the incident referred to occurred over 10 years ago. It was settled by informal agreement at the time." Rennie responded to the allegations of bullying in a statement, saying: "The evidence is disputed and was disputed when the incident referred to occurred over 10 years ago. It was settled by informal agreement at the time."
The MPs also say some federation officials targeted public figures including home secretaries, Tom Winsor – now HM chief inspector of constabulary – and Mitchell. The MPs' report says some federation officials targeted public figures including home secretaries, Tom Winsor – now HM chief inspector of constabulary – and Mitchell.
They criticise the decision to fund a £15,000-a-month contract with the Gaunt Brothers. They say that Gaunt sought to exploit the Plebgate incident as part of a manipulative media strategy and three of the police officers he advised are now under investigation. It criticises the decision to fund a £15,000-a-month contract with Gaunt. It says Gaunt sought to exploit the Plebgate incident as part of a manipulative media strategy. "This entire episode does the federation no credit at all," the MPs conclude.
"This entire episode does the Federation no credit at all," they conclude. In evidence to MPs, Gaunt said he had no regrets about the way the Mitchell affair was handled: "We ran a very successful campaign. We kept it on the front pages for four weeks. In evidence to MPs, Gaunt said he had no regrets about the way the Mitchell affair was handled. "We ran a very successful campaign. We kept it on the front pages for four weeks," he said. "Clearly I regret that the police officer who went to prison, who lied and said he was there when he was not there. I regret that happened. But, as I say, we never represented him and if I did represent him, I would have told him not to do it."
"Clearly I regret that the police officer who went to prison, who lied and said he was there when he was not there. I regret that happened. But, as I say, we never represented him and if I did represent him, I would have told him not to do it." Williams, who commissioned the independent Normington review of the federation, said work was well under way to implement its 36 recommendations. "We welcome the home affairs committee reiteration of the principles contained within that report and of its modernising agenda which we will be working to implement at our annual conference next week."
Williams, who commissioned the independent Normington review into the federation, said work was well under way to implement its 36 recommendations. "We welcome the home affairs committee reiteration of the principles contained within that report and of its modernising agenda which we will be working to implement at our annual conference next week."