PW_4_2020

Keeping you informed

Finally I wanted to update you in relation to the Young Member Forum (YMF). The chair of this group has recently changed and I am pleased that Aidan Goundry from 5 Region has taken on the role. Some of you will know Aidan and the tremendous work he is doing around the travel bobby app. Aidan has recently been co-opted onto the National Executive to carry on the good work he is doing working alongside VP Martin Turner. I also want to shout out a thanks to David Hunter, Chair of 3 Region, who has kindly offered to take the lead on the International Learning and Development Exchange program (ILDEP). If you are interested in an exchange with another police organisation, contact David. He recently had correspondence from New Zealand, who are keen to work with us. So whilst the first part of 2020 has not been at all as I expected, it has certainly in IPA terms, continued to be extremely busy. There is without doubt, always something to be involved with. You will see elsewhere in this edition, details which show, you are never too old to get involved online, using the Zoom facility I have spoken about many times. So if you haven’t yet got online, what have you got to lose? I thoroughly recommend getting hold of a tablet or iPad, and joining in one of the many groups which weekly meet on line. Thank you as always for your continuing support for the Association, let’s hope that all our circumstances soon improve. In friendship. Clive

I’m sure I’ve told you previously that I chair a Recruitment & Retention Working Group, which is developing opportunities to increase our recruitment, and ensure we retain members with interesting and relevant opportunities. You may have seen a couple of initiatives which were approved by the National Executive, after being developed in the working group. These include a 2 for 1 offer, which enables two colleagues to join and only pay one joining fee. This is excellent value, providing the opportunity to come along with a friend to your first branch meeting and see what the Association is all about. The other initiative is an incremental, or reduced joining fee offer, which means there is never a bad time of year to join our wonderful Association, as the fee is stepped throughout the year to provide absolutely best value. Another initiative which we have recently introduced, encourages Branches or Regions to recognise colleagues who find themselves in the media, having attended incidents which have had a profound effect on their life and well-being. We have agreed that when such individuals are reported to the executive, we will consider extending the offer of free membership for a period of up to two years to help with their recovery and return to normality. Further details and advice can be obtained from Secretary General Steve Bretherton. Whilst a lot of face-to-face training has changed over the past few months, I hope you have seen the virtual learning opportunities being offered on the website, or circulated on the latest news. I am enjoying a set of six lectures provided by IBZ Gimborn, which cover terrorism and violent extremism. Our own Vice President (Professional) Martin Turner, has been working closely with colleagues in IPA Finland to deliver this training. This is the second such lecture series I have attended, and it is actually a lot easier than going to Germany for the week. Further training opportunities have been advertised, which we hope will be face-to-face, and we are keen to support them. This includes the Young Police Officers Seminar (YPOS), which is due to be held in Sri Lanka next March. Further details can be obtained from Vice President Yvonne McGregor. There is also an opportunity to travel to Green Bay Wisconsin in the United States of America, for their annual training week. Further details on the bursary available for that can be obtained from VP Martin Turner.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 65 No.4, 2020