Police Magazine March 10

Here is a link to this month’s edition of Police magazine: http://www.polfed.org/mag_march_10.asp

The cover story looks at how the next government, whoever is elected, may look to erode pay and conditions for police officers, force through mergers and increasingly civilianise the service and why this would be disastrous for the service. Professor Roger Seifert, industrial relations expert, who speaks at the Federation’s conference in May, writes on the issue (page 18). A risky business (page 24) looks at techniques which change police driver behaviour and can help to cut accidents and potentially saves lives.

News pages cover Gordon Brown’s speech on policing and his pledge to ‘maintain numbers’, challenging police authorities to ensure adequate funding. The magazine also features views on why the Federation believes a Home Office report on women in the police service is missing the point on maintaining and attracting female recruits and could lead to discrimination if forces simply focus on pushing up numbers. We have all our regular columns, including a View from the chair which hits out at potential reduction in police numbers and why it would put public safety at risk. Also included are Local focus, Federation view and the more light-hearted View from the sidelines and Dogberry to, hopefully, bring a slight smile to your faces!

• Editorial
• News: Federation hits out at female officer report
• News: PM pledge to maintain police numbers
• News: Forces should keep figures that could cut assaults
• Federation Views: David Pellatt, secretary of the Inspectors’ Central Committee reflects on the past and looks at what the future could hold for the rank as some forces look to reduce senior managers
• View from the Chair
• Local focus: Mark Botham, chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, looks at the divisiveness of special priority payments
• View from the sidelines: Light-hearted look at life by Clive Chamberlain who looks writes on the issue of weight gain and the more serious subject of police overtime
• Police in parliament: What makes a prospective parliamentary candidate volunteer as a Special Constable? Syreeta Lund speaks to Nicola Bates, contesting Nick Clegg’s seat on why she decided to walk the beat
• Future force: Could the recession be used as an excuse to downgrade police officers pay and conditions? Roger Seifert, professor of industrial relations and human resources management
• Moving on up? Can you really manage to get onto the housing ladder on a police officer’s wage? Suzanne Boyce, editor of Homefocus magazine offers up some solutions
• Breaking the silence: How Northumbria Police’s Public Protection Unit is trying to get women to report domestic violence which results in the murders of two women every week in the UK
• A risky business: A driver training expert and psychologist writes about how the risks of driving at high speeds can be cut through brain training techniques