DPF Briefing
March 2001
Your Membership Needs You
As a member of the Defence Police Federation you are provided with comprehensive protection, representation and support embracing a wide range of services covering you whether on or off duty.
The DPF, like any other staff association or trade union, needs members. A strong membership base gives credibility with our employer and therefore bargaining strength on a wide range of matters covering pay, terms and conditions, legal and discipline representation and so on.
This strong membership base also provides your Federation with the sound financial base that enables us to operate effectively on your behalf. Income can only come from the subscription of our members.
Recruitment targets new entrants joining the Force. We must therefore ensure that those particular officers are given a full explanation about the value of DPF membership. To this end we propose to make better use of the time allocated to addressing recruits during their initial training course at PTC. We also intend to produce a short video showing the benefits of belonging to the Federation.
Having recruited new members into the Federation we then need to retain them. It is a great pity having recruited new members to find that we lose them because of poor service or lack of support. It is essential therefore to provide a level of service that is committed to quality and best value.
Retention of existing members is a top priority. Currently membership stands at 92.7%. That level has remained fairly constant over the years. However, as with any membership based organisation, occasionally members do leave because of dissatisfaction with some aspects of structure, organisation or policy. This is indeed regrettable. Fortunately, from time to time there are ex-members who revise their opinion to rejoin. Normally such applications are considered favourably, subject of course to the rules and constitution. That is no excuse for complacency and it is for this reason that we value feedback to help identify problem areas where perhaps the level of service has fallen short of expectations and allow us the opportunity to put matters right.
As well as having a strong membership base the federation needs an effective and efficient structure by which to operate. The present system has served us well over many years. We do however recognise the need for continual improvement and are currently examining ways of maximising existing resources to enhance the level of service to members. An outside consultancy is assisting us in this project which has been extended to include restructure of the organisation.
It is important to bear in mind that the DPF is statutory based and granted sole recognition by the MoD to represent members on all matters affecting welfare and efficiency. The established machinery of consultation and representation jointly agreed between DPF and the Ministry gives us direct access to Force Management, Senior Departmental staff and perhaps more importantly Defence Ministers. This enables DPF to play an influential role in the decision making process.
In addition to its representational role, the DPF is able to provide a range of membership services through specially selected business connections. The Travel Insurance Scheme is a perfect example of how we can negotiate favourable rates for members. An extensive range of legal services is also available to members for matters arising on duty and beyond. These include discipline and complaints, employment disputes, discrimination cases, personal injury cases. Free legal advice is also available on such non-duty matters as matrimonial, consumer, neighbour disputes etc, and in certain circumstances free advice and assistance is extended to family members. Conveyancing on favourable terms plus a free Will service is also available.
Welfare support is another area that is of fundamental importance. We are able to offer confidential advice and assistance, home visits, financial assistance in the form of grants or loans to those who may suffer ill health or misfortune, a death in service benefit and periods of convalescence for members in need thereof.
Overall DPF is determined to provide the whole membership with a responsive quality service. Officers should be wary of other organisations advertising their services. Unlike DPF, such organisations are not statutory based nor are they officially recognised by the Ministry of Defence. Despite claims to the contrary, they do not have rights on consultation, negotiation or representation and cannot hope to influence even directly the terms and conditions of service which your Federation is empowered to negotiate on your behalf.
The position is that legislation not only recognises the DPF but goes on to establish a framework to ensure appropriate regulation of the Federation. This includes the direct involvement of the Secretary of State with the power to make Regulations as to membership, funds and representation procedures.
Those statutory powers have been exercised with the promulgation of the Ministry of Defence Police (Defence Police Federation) Regulations 1988. Those Regulations establish detailed provisions with regard to the membership and organisation of the Federation, its funds and consultation rights.
This structure closely mirrors that applicable to the Home Department forces within the Police Act 1996. Section 59 of that Act creates an obligation on the Police Federation of England and Wales to represent all members of police forces in matters affecting their welfare and efficiency.
Similar provisions apply with regard to Regulations and the 1996 Act also prevents members of police forces from joining: “any association having for its objects or one of its objects, to control or influence the pay, pensions or conditions of service of any police force.” (Section 64 (1)).
Plainly, with regard to both MDP and Home Department forces, the legislation aims to provide for an established framework of regulated representative bodies for members of police forces. No other bodies are recognised by statute or subject to the detailed regulatory machinery provided for by the legislation.
The strength of the Federation is dependent upon the collective strength of its individual members. Failure to remain united will weaken your negotiating position and that is not in your interest.
