Cambridgeshire Police Federation Secretary Kevin Misik
Secretary Kevin Misik has reaffirmed Cambridgeshire Police Federation’s commitment to being there for every member.
Kevin said the branch wanted to ensure that all members felt heard, supported, and properly represented.
He said there was often a misconception that the Federation only represents officers under misconduct investigation.
But he stressed that Fed reps are also there to support witnesses and victims through the process.
“One of the things that gets levelled at us is that we only act for officers who are in trouble,” Kevin said.
“When there is a hearing, the officer will have a representative and the Federation will support them.
“What we also do, which is less well known, is that we also provide Federation representatives for victims and witnesses.”
The message follows an announcement by Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) CEO Mukund Krishna at conference in November.
He told delegates of PFEW’s commitment to a dedicated victim and witness support programme.
“We have a moral responsibility to treat each other with dignity,” he said.
PFEW’s own survey of 5,203 officers found that more than one in five (21 per cent) had been directly involved in a misconduct case where the perpetrator was another officer.
The results found that among those involved, witnesses outnumbered victims by three to one.
Kevin said the branch wanted to make the process ‘as smooth as possible’ for victims and witnesses.
He said that officers giving evidence can often feel isolated, unable to speak freely about what they are going through, and aware of the scrutiny they are under.
“They can feel like the whole world is looking at them as some kind of horrible person,” Kevin said.
“We will sit with that officer, explain what is going to happen and, metaphorically, hold their hand.”
However, Kevin stressed that the Cambridgeshire Police Federation has been prioritising support for victims and witnesses for some time.
“Ensuring that all of our members – including witnesses and victims – are provided with support is something we here at Cambridgeshire Police Federation have been doing for a while,” he continued.
“It’s brilliant to see that the national Federation is making it a priority too. Rolling out a national programme will ensure consistency across England and Wales, which is only ever a good thing.”
The survey also highlighted wider concerns about support. More than two out of five (42 per cent) officers believe support for those who report or are a witness is poor, and only 12 per cent think it is handled well.
Four in five officers say the level of support available directly affects whether they feel able to report a colleague or act as a witness. This rises to 59 per cent among women and 68 per cent among ethnic minority officers.
Kevin said the branch’s priority was to ensure that no member felt they were standing alone.
“If someone makes an allegation, or if they are a witness, we will stand with them and help them through what can be a stressful and lonely process,” he said.
“By supporting victims and witnesses, explaining how the system works and making sure the organisation does what it is supposed to do, we want to help ensure members are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
