Praise for officers after Games success

9 August 2022

Police officers have been praised for the way in which they helped ensure the Commonwealth Games was a resounding success.

Jon Nott, West Midlands Police Federation lead, says officers, both from the Force and from other supporting forces, have worked incredibly hard to keep everyone safe but also entered into the family-friendly feel of the event which ended on Monday evening with a spectacular closing ceremony.

He also made special mention of officers who were not directly involved in policing the Games who had their shifts changed and worked long hours to maintain “business as usual” policing within the Force.

“Each and every day there have been around 3,000 officers on duty for what has been the biggest event to be staged in Birmingham,” says Jon, “They have stepped up to the mark to keep people safe but have also stayed true to the spirit of the Games.

“I am incredibly proud of each and every officer who has been part of this policing operation; they demonstrated all that is good about policing in this country. That applies not just to those who were part of policing the Games but also those back in Force who faced the disruption of shift changes and long hours so that we could also maintain our usual policing service.

“No one should under-estimate the impact Birmingham staging the Games has had on the Force and those officers who filled the gaps left by colleagues who were called upon to police the event.”

Jon added: “In terms of those who were directly policing the Games, many have said how much they enjoyed being out and about on the streets and around the sporting venues, mixing with the public and going back to traditional community policing. Some have got blisters on their feet as they have been doing far more walking than usual but they have all said how much they have loved just getting out and engaging with people.

“I just want to thank them all: our own officers involved in the policing operation, those called in to backfill for officers taken away from their usual roles and also the 2,000 officers drawn in from other forces across England and Wales as part of the mutual aid response. Everyone has been amazing and they have all played their part in making sure the Games were such a resounding success.”

During the Games, West Midlands Police Federation’s full-time officials – including branch chair Rich Cooke, deputy secretary Chris James and health and safety lead Deano Walker – and several workplace representatives have staffed the branch’s welfare van, providing refreshments to officers but also answering queries from members.

Rich Cooke with officers policing during the Games.

Rich said: “It has been good to get out to see officers, to check how they were doing, maybe offer a coffee or a chocolate, but also to deal with the many questions they had and offer support and advice. Many were feeling tired and drained after consecutive 12-hour shifts - unsurprising as some were doing six days in a row!

“This was extreme policing and many now need a long rest. Sadly, they won’t get it with other events coming hard on the heels of the games such as the Conservative Party Conference, numerous football related events in addition to continued unprecedented demand from the public. Many will also return to a backlog of work from within their own areas of business that simply haven’t been serviced during the Games period. Burn-out is an ever present reality today.

“The Federation team has been on hand for members and has also helped support visiting officers from other forces. There were some isolated issues with the standard of the accommodation and food but these were dealt with or made better. There are points of learning and not everything was fantastic from our point of view.

“Most disappointing was the Home Office’s refusal to allow the Force to pay our officers for their rest day working, which would have been the right thing to do, albeit outside of Police Regulations. This is in stark contrast to mutual aid officers. So that leaves a bitter taste for many having lost so much family time, with measly compensation.  These things need to be fed back and reflected upon for future national events. The team and I will ensure that happens.

“But overall we got the job done. There were no major incidents and the public were very safe and happy from what I saw. Most officers played their part, or were affected in some way. That includes Specials, volunteers and not just those visible at the Games but also those working behind the scenes and those officers and staff who found themselves picking up extra work, different shifts and longer hours as they filled the gaps left as their colleagues made up part of Operation Unity, the Commonwealth Games policing initiative.”

The Norfolk, Humberside, Hertfordshire, North Wales and Dyfed Powys Federation branches all brought their welfare vans to Birmingham to offer support to officers.