In 2013, following a string of controversies ranging from directly targeting elected politicians and reports of internal bullying, PFEW initiated an independent review of its practices and core purpose.

In 2014 PFEW committed itself to implementing the 36 recommendations in the Normington Report - guidelines designed to improve transparency and accountability within the Federation - and changed its core purpose for the first time in almost 100yrs. 

Now, in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities for the welfare and efficiency of police officers, PFEW committed itself, at all levels, to:

• ensure that police officers are fully informed and that there is the highest degree of transparency in decision-making and the use of resources.
• Maintain exemplary standards of conduct, integrity and professionalism.
• Act in the interests of our members and the public, seeking to build public confidence in the police service and accepting public accountability for our use of public money.
• Work together and in partnership with others in the policing world to achieve our goals.  

Unfortunately PFEW have squandered a once in an organisation opportunity to implement its own package of reforms and continues to treat its members, and the public, like mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed manure. 

As a member of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), and having once been elected by police officers to chair its Greater Manchester branch I have experienced first-hand its failure to fulfil its obligations to police officers and the public.

In 2015 I challenged the government following its pension reform programme believing that some aspects of the scheme implementation discriminated against officers on the grounds of age, sex and race. I approached PFEW, the only organisation permitted in law to represent officers on these matters, and asked for legal assistance and its public backing. Instead, PFEW allied itself to the Governments discriminatory policy and pursued a campaign of misinformation, driven by personal animus, to divide its membership into 'haves' and 'have nots' and portrayed me as a the enemy within. In doing so, it betrayed its diverse membership and disregarded its public duty to promote a fairer more equal society; challenging discriminatory practices where ever it finds them. 

This is not just my story; it's the story of 9,980 officers who, following several attempts to encourage PFEW to treat us fairly, pursued legal claims against PFEW for victimisation and age discrimination. These claims resulted in a damning employment tribunal judgement in the case of Broadbent and others vs Police Federation of England and Wales which found that PFEW had actively victimised and discriminated again its its membership. 

The judgement contains 39 references to 'misleading' conduct by PFEW or evidence presented by PFEW along with a reference to a 'dereliction of duty' by PFEW and even references its previous General Secretary as being 'untruthful' in his evidence. The damming judgement has no doubt damaged the reputation of policing and diminished the standing of the Police Federation of England and Wales. 

PFEW's lack of action since this judgement and its attempts to change its electoral rules to, in my opinion, avoid accountability, has further eroded membership trust in PFEW at a time when rebuilding trust should be its main concern.

As was reported by the Home Affairs select committee in 2014:

 “The Police Federation is, as we have already noted, a statutory body created by Parliament. Its membership, whom it does not currently serve as well as it could.... We believe it would be best for the Federation to reform from within, with the support of its members, on the basis of the Normington proposals. However, if that reform is not taken forward, it would be derelict of Parliament and the Government to stand aside and watch the Federation continue to let its members down.”

It's time for an independent inquiry by an external body who can examine the systemic failings and democratic deficit at the heart of PFEW and hold the organisation and its officials accountable for their actions and/or inaction. 

We need your help to bring about this change. By signing this petition, you are not only supporting all those police officers who have been let down by PFEW's negligence, but you are demanding better representation for police officers and the public alike.

Please sign this petition today – demand an independent inquiry into the Police Federation of England and Wales!