Cheshire Police Federation

This special edition is dedicated to the second Cheshire Police Federation Bravery Awards in March. Host Andrew Simpson was among the guests at Nunsmere Hall, near Northwich, and he took with him a microphone and invited those in attendance to share to share their reflections on the importance of an event of this type. A total of 17 Cheshire police officers received an award in recognition of thei...

The Government has shared proposals for what it describes as the biggest overhaul to policing in England and Wales since forces were professionalised two centuries ago. They feature in a White Paper published at the end of January 2026. But what do police officers make of the ideas for change? Jamie Thompson, Cheshire Police Federation chair, reveals to host Andrew Simpson which parts have prompte...

The pressure to restructure policing is clear, although finding consensus on the best way to do so is anything but. A white paper on police reform which the government said was due before Christmas won’t now be ready until January at the earliest. What will be in it seems to be changing all the time. Jamie Thompson, Cheshire Police Federation chairman, tells host Andrew Simpson how the topic was t...

New rules will change how police officers are held to account when making split-second decisions intended to protect the public. The legal test for the use of force in misconduct cases will move from a balance of probabilities to the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt, the Government has announced. How will that influence cops’ behaviour in the line of duty? Jamie Thompson, Cheshire Poli...

‘It’s not how much money you make, but how much of it that you keep.’ That’s how police officers in England and Wales will reflect following an announcement by the Government that they’ll receive a 4.2% pay rise from September. The Police Federation of England and Wales said the latest pay award ‘ barely treads water ’. But how do those bobbies working locally feel about a salary increase?  Jamie...

That isn’t the case for police officers, who have shared how they feel as part of the latest Pay and Morale Survey by the Police Federation of England and Wales. Host Andrew Simpson is joined by Tiff Lynch, acting national chair, and Cheshire Police Federation chairman Jamie Thompson to talk about what results from the 2024 edition have taught us. How can the findings be used to affect meaningful...

This special edition is dedicated to the inaugural Cheshire Police Federation Bravery Awards in March. Host Andrew Simpson was among the guests at Nunsmere Hall, near Northwich, and he took with him a microphone and listened to what those in attendance made of what will hopefully become an annual occasion. The selflessness and dedication of 18 Cheshire police officers was acknowledged with awards,...

Cheshire Constabulary’s commitment to keeping people safe was a highlight for inspectors when they visited.   His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its report after judging the force’s performance across nine areas of policing.   It was found to have improved or maintained its grading for each of those since the previous inspection.    Ja...

As the saying goes, ‘No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.’ The first episode of a new year strikes an optimistic note as Cheshire Police Federation chairman, Jamie Thompson, and vice-chairman Dave Howard identify what lies ahead for policing in 2025. They tell host Andrew Simpson why the branch’s inaugural bravery awards in March is an event worth supporting, and what they hope...

Do emotions prompted by experiencing trauma impact police officer behaviour? It’s a question that Lucy Davies, a doctoral researcher for the Open University, intends to answer as part of a new study into the relationship between stress, feelings, and misconduct. In this episode, she tells host Andrew Simpson and Jamie Thompson, Cheshire Police Federation chairman, why she is interested in this sub...

In May of this year, Labour’s Dan Price was elected as the third Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire since the post’s creation in 2012. In this episode, he tells host Andrew Simpson how he intends to approach the role and what it’s like to start a new job while in the public eye. Cheshire Police Federation chairman, Jamie Thompson, talks too about the branch’s relationship with PCCs past an...

Every year, police officers are asked how they feel. And since the coronavirus pandemic, their answer has been the same: morale is lower than before. The Police Federation of England and Wales’ annual Pay and Morale Survey seeks members’ views on pay and conditions, as well as their attitudes to work and the police service in general. Host Andrew Simpson is joined by Jamie Thompson, the Cheshire P...

If you can communicate effectively, then engagement is more likely. Is that true? The Cheshire Police Federation podcast returns with a conversation about a word that has several meanings. Branch chairman Jamie Thompson joins host Andrew Simpson to explain how his role demands engagement with different actors on a daily basis. One such group is MPs; why talk to them? And what are the potential ben...

How comforting is it to talk to somebody who empathises with the way you’re feeling? This episode explores the power of personal connection, and identifies how that can be applied practically to assist police officers. Host Andrew Simpson is joined by Dan Lever, equality and wellbeing lead for Cheshire Police Federation , who together with David Cain is ready to launch 4092 Men’s Talk Group. David...

One of the ways Cheshire Police Federation connects to the communities that its members serve is by supporting good causes. Branch chairman Jamie Thompson tells host Andrew Simpson why doing so gives him satisfaction, and celebrates the benefits he’s seen from doing something for others. A major fundraising event in the calendar is an annual dinner co-hosted by the Cheshire Police Federation and t...

Following a review this year, the Government has proposed that police officers suspected of gross misconduct should be sacked automatically if the allegation is proven.  Chief constables, or other senior officers, will also be given greater powers – including chairing a three-person panel at disciplinary hearings – if the changes become law. What will the impact be? Dave Howard, Conduct and Perfor...

Police officers have discovered that their pay will rise by seven per cent from September. It provides respite, but pressure on their pockets won’t relent. Cheshire Police Federation chairman Jamie Thompson tells host Andrew Simpson what the impact will be on his members’ personal finances. He outlines too the challenge of articulating a response everybody agrees with, and explains why the method...

Like most of us, PC Jim Clark watched the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a bystander from afar last year. In 2023, that changed. The Cheshire Police Federation workplace representative, together with colleague PC Rob Stordy, launched Cops for Ukraine in February with the objective of raising money to pay for vital equipment, supplies, and aid that can be sent to police officers in the country impa...

A new study claims trust in the police is fragile, with close to seven in 10 respondents believing the service has given up on trying to solve crimes like vandalism or shoplifting. Among those who have been a victim of crime, most said they are unsatisfied with the police response. How did we get here? Steve Hartshorn, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales , and Tiff Lynch, his deput...

On seeking support from sources that may not seem obvious Can police officers learn about managing their mental health from colleagues who do similar jobs? The emergency services peer community, an online space to compare experiences and share knowledge, aims to find out exactly that. It is the brainchild of Eleos Partnership and Tim Rushmere, one of its co-founders, tells host Andrew Simpson why...

Results from the latest Pay and Morale Survey prompted the Police Federation of England and Wales to conclude that officers are close to breaking point. Many are questioning whether they can afford to stay in policing amid the cost-of-living crisis, and close to one in five respondents said they plan on quitting the job. How seriously should we take them? And what impact does worrying every day ab...

The way officers feel – about their jobs, how they’re portrayed, and who really appreciates them – has dominated discourse on policing throughout 2022. Branch chairman Jamie Thompson is invited by host Andrew Simpson to join the dots between issues that matter most to Cheshire Police Federation members. Together they reflect on the past 12 months, selecting highlights, revisiting the biggest chall...

A campaign by the Police Federation of England and Wales for special constables to join its ranks resulted in a law change earlier this year. Now, volunteer officers can apply for membership and enjoy the benefits of representation and protection unavailable to them previously. Jamie Birtles, a special constable in Cheshire, tells host Andrew Simpson why that is important. Meanwhile, branch chairm...

If close to half of police officers in Cheshire were worrying daily about money last winter, then how do they feel about their circumstances now? Dan Lever, equality and wellbeing lead for Cheshire Police Federation, tells host Andrew Simpson what impact poor financial wellbeing has on performance. And, against the backdrop of inflation in the UK reaching double digits for the first time in 40 yea...

The Government has announced salary increases for public sector workers. Police in England and Wales will receive a consolidated pay award of £1,900, applied to all ranks from September 1, for the year 2022-23. The Home Office says that is equivalent to a five per cent increase overall, and is targeted at those on the lowest pay who will see an uplift of up to 8.8 per cent. In this bonus episode,...