“We must work with Government – or be left in the cold”

THE Police Federation must decide to work in partnership with the government or risk being left out in the cold, according to the Chairman of Northumbria Police Federation.

Gordon Armstrong described Theresa May’s offer to work together as an “ultimatum” but said the Federation should grab the chance while it can. He said: “Effectively, Theresa May is offering a partnership. She isn’t offering a choice. It’s an ultimatum to work together or lose even more power.”

He added: “Shouting, resisting from the sidelines, highlights that our power will diminish significantly if the partnership offer is not accepted.

“The approach forces the Federation to decide, and quickly, especially as she has positioned her message in the context of making policing the best it can be.

“Nationally, I think we lost the true negotiating power of the Federation years ago. We’ve been under significant pressure to change internally and as long as there can be seen to be progress then she will leave it alone.

“Personally, I think a public partnership with the government is the only way to gain any form of influence on the reforms.

“I think she’s offering that partnership and if we don’t take it we’ll get left out in the cold.”

Mr Armstrong said he noticed the Home Secretary noting down comments made by delegates during a question and answer session after her speech, and was encouraged that she may listen to the Federation’s point of view.

“The things that were said in there by the PFEW members and delegates, that were of benefit to the organisation, she noted it down and was quite prepared to listen and said she would look at it. What more can we ask of her really?

“[Federation Chairman] Steve White has put forward the position of the Federation from the police officer’s point of view on the ground. It’s entirely up to the Government, in particular Theresa May, if she decides to listen.

“We’ve been offered a partnership with the Government. That’s the only way the Government’s going to listen, and that’s the olive branch that we need to grab.

“They haven’t listened before, she’s highlighted where we’ve criticised Governments in the past, she’s aware of that. But she has said she wants a partnership, she’s prepared to listen, so let’s grab it.”