Thread by @docrussjackson

The what?

#THREAD

The 'Metropolitan Police Federation' is part of the wider 'Police Federation of England & Wales' (PFEW) - the statutory staff association for police constables, sergeants, inspectors & chief inspectors in the 43 territorial police forces in England & Wales.

https://twitter.com/MPFed/status/1493198362199343104

Because the police aren't allowed to join a Union, they instead have a 'staff association', meant to represent 'rank & file officers', governed by rules & regulations set by government.

It's core purpose was amended in 2014 for the first time since it was set up in 1919.

In 2014 the federation had been under fire, with some of its members involved in controversies including allegations of falsified evidence following the Hillsborough disaster & the so-called #plebgate row, when Andrew Mitchell was accused of calling a Downing St officer a “pleb”.

In 2014, then Home Secretary Theresa May announced she would completely cut the public funding the already very wealthy organisation receives, as part of a wider push to curb its power & make it more accountable.

ft.com/content/224879…

An 'Independent Review' concluded that the organisation should reflect the Police's commitment to act in the public interest, as well as its members.

In July 2021 it stated it no longer had confidence in the current Home Secretary Priti Patel.

polfed.org/dcp/news/2021/…

The Federation promises it will "maintain exemplary standards of conduct, integrity & professionalism", & "act in the interests of our members & the public, seeking to build public confidence in the police service & accepting public accountability for our use of public money."

The MET has understandably been under attack from all sides of late, & we should perhaps anticipate the Federation becoming increasingly politicised, as Britain becomes more polarised & understandably even less trusting of those in authority - including the Govt & the Police.

Another of the Federation's stated aims is to: "influence internal & external decision makers at local & national levels on matters affecting our members and the police service", achieved in part by "putting evidence-based information in the hands of decision makers."

These are concerning developments in a Britain already plagued by political corruption & endless scandals, serious underfunding of our legal system, & the enormous influence of unelected billionaires on our increasingly authoritarian & antidemocratic Govt & our fragile democracy.