DPF Briefing

September 2003

DAVE KING

This is my last formal note to the membership. As of 1st October I step down as general secretary after some 19 + years in the post.

During that time the Force and Federation has had its ups and down not least in terms of membership. At our peak in the early 90’s we had a strength of over 5000. Today it stands at about 3400 and recruitment is again on the up.

There have been many significant developments along the way to0 numerous to mention although I would single out the MDP Act of 87 as being of particular importance as it put the Force on a statutory footing and gave formal recognition to the DPF.

It is certainly true to say that we have had some interesting battles with management and MoD in making our case that we should not be denied the terms and conditions agreed for Home Department Forces. This seems an unending task but at least the debates between ourselves and those in the Force and Department have always been courteous and at the end of the day, constructive.

Looking back over the years, I suspect that the watershed for the Federation has to be the united campaign we fought in support of the HD federations against the Sheehy Report of 1994, which would have destroyed police pay and conditions. Of course we then had to contend with our own Blelloch Inquiry which after much internal campaigning came down in support of the link with HDP being maintained. In the last period, reform of police pay and conditions has again been top of the agenda. It seems to be never ending and DPF must continue to guard against any erosion of our hard won terms and conditions.

The federation continues to meet its obligations and has recently gone through a restructuring exercise. The changes seem to be working well and will assist in preparing the DPF to face the new challenges that lie ahead.

For me I am happy to hand over the task to my very capable successor, Jimmy Miller. My sincere thanks to everyone. It has been a privilege to have served.