PW_3_2025

Keeping you informed

Colin and Alex Williams

Colin Shead

With Clive and Musaed

On June 18th I visited Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs at Thames Valley Police (TVP) HQ in my capacity of Secretary of Thames Valley Branch. DCC Snuggs is our very lovely and active patron, and it is always a pleasure to chat with him about the IPA, our plans, and be able to glean his thoughts. As ever, he gave me some extremely helpful pointers and connections which I am following up. Our network of branch patrons is incredibly important to us. We are lucky to have active and engaged senior leaders in policing who see the value of the IPA and the contribution it can make to Police UK, and who are prepared to advocate for us. On Wednesday, July 2nd, I had the pleasure of joining Region 10 Chair Colin Shead and Emma Portfleet in Chelmsford at a training day Emma had organised for her officers. It was a great chance to talk about the IPA, and we had a few new joiners as a result. Colin and I then went on to meet Christian Robertson from Essex Police Sports Club (Christian also has a role within PSUK). Colin wanted to sound him out about how the Sports Club might be able to support Essex Police members who wanted to take part in the IPA Games and other IPA sports events, and building on the success of the women footballers in Albania, how PSUK might engage with the IPA. Again, a very positive conversation. Later that day, we met at the Horniman at Hays pub (opposite HMS Belfast) for Alex Williams’ leaving do. Alex is embarking on his ‘Cycling Detective’ world tour and we all wish him well. It was a chance to present Alex with his Honorary Life Membership certificate, Colin with his Presidential Award and the pair of them, on behalf of the London Reception Officer network (which Colin has taken over from Alex), the 2026 Millenium Shield for all the amazing work that the LRO team have done and continue to do. On Tuesday, July 8th, I represented the IPA at the British Overseas Territories Council for Commissioners of Police Conference dinner, at the invitation of Andrew Munday (law Enforcement Adviser, Overseas Territories and Polar Directorate – Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). Our connection with the work being done in the overseas territories by the FCDO has grown over the last year, thanks to the support of Andrew and colleague Maria Stanley (both IPA members). Assistant Vice President Lorna Corbin (Region 11) and Emma Portfleet (Region 10) have been running an engagement program for British Overseas Territories (BOT) Foreign Associate Members (FAMs). This has included, amongst other things, monthly meetings to help create their professional network, linking them in with the online seminar series being run by Vice President Learning and Development Chris Duncombe. Through the #SHEisIPA Project, May-Britt V. R. Ronnebro and Marie Daly are also delivering a 12 month Mentoring Program for seven BOT, two TVP and one NPCC candidates.

The feedback from this has been excellent and as it draws to a close at the end of September, it is exciting to think how we can build on this. Projects and activities such as this help to build the profile and visibility of Section UK and the IPA more broadly with senior leaders in a position to say “yes.” The next morning, I visited Norfolk Police and Fire HQ in Wymondham with Andy Sullivan and Steve Bretherton to meet another of our fabulous patrons, Assistant Chief Constable Julie Dean. ACC Dean has been incredibly supportive to region eight activities and engagement, and it was lovely to see her again. The meeting with her, Vanisha Mistry (Bhogal) and Pippa Hinds was positive not only in the sense of suggestions about how Section UK can better integrate with Norfolk Police (comms, engagement, structure etc) but also how Norfolk Police can maximise the benefit from the IPA. After that meeting, we met a new young member in Suffolk Branch for lunch. Aaron was full of innovative ideas and suggestions, and I am sure that Andy and Steve will be taking him up on his offers of help. On Thursday, July 8th, at Fox Road, I met up with Clive and also Gaynor Collins, who has stepped in to fill the gap left by the departure of Michele Rai and is doing a fantastic job in helping us manage our day-to-day financial business. Clive and I also met Dr Musaed Al-Najjar about the start, next year, of the process to get a new ‘Section Kuwait’ off the ground, supported by Section UK. Exciting times. To finish, I want to underline all that is good about the direction of travel for Section UK. We have the highest number of members that we have had in years – currently just over 8,000 as I write this. We have a keen and committed NEC who want to move the section forward. We have seen recently that there are many people who are committed, skilled and who want to step forward and help, and this will be important moving forward. I have a strategic plan, which will focus on the key areas of business which will drive growth and make the Section fit for the future. I am really looking forward with optimism to what is to come and being able to write this piece

for Police World with positive and exciting things to share. Let us not allow what has happened in the past to define us. Let us instead use it to make ourselves better and stronger. Karen Karen Duckworth, President, International Police Association – Section UK

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POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.3, 2025