Avon and Somerset Police Federation

25/03/2026

from Police Insure

24/03/2026

Chiefs’ rest day proposals are a serious mistake that risk officer welfare and public safety, according to the Police Federation of England and Wales.

The PFEW has issued a stark warning to the Government not to accept proposals from police chiefs that would make it cheaper and easier for forces to intrude on the vital rest days officers need to keep communities safe.

Police officers are currently entitled to a minimum four hours’ compensation at time and a half when they are required to work on a cancelled rest day or bank holiday, recognising the disruption to protected rest and family commitments.

In its submission to the Government-controlled Police Remuneration Review Body, police chiefs have proposed to remove that safeguard with officers paid at time and one-third, calculated in 15-minute increments, for the exact time worked. The submission also seeks to tighten the rules around how cancelled rest days are re-rostered.

In response, the Federation is launching ‘Hands Off Our Rest Days’ as part of its wider Copped Enough campaign for better pay, working conditions and support for police officers.

Tom Gent, Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: "We are incredibly disappointed to see Chief Constables, including our own, push to make it cheaper to cancel officers’ days off and make it easier to retain them on duty off their night shifts.

“In Avon and Somerset, officers are regularly being required to come in and give up their precious family time to police protests and support day-to-day policing due to short staffing, so the impact of this will be acutely felt.

“I have made it clear to our Chief that I believe making it cheaper and easier to cancel officers’ days off will be a false economy – only increasing fatigue, sickness and continuing to make policing a less desirable career, resulting in officers leaving the profession.

“I would urge her and the NPCC to reconsider their submissions and to focus their arguments on measures that genuinely back the frontline.”

Police Federation National Chair Tiff Lynch said: "At a time when policing is getting more dangerous and when thousands are choosing to leave, chief constables are proposing not to strengthen protections for their men and women but to weaken them.”

National Secretary John Partington said: “It is difficult to see how any Chief Constable who truly supports their officers could believe making it cheaper to cancel rest days is the right approach. They should scrap these plans now.”

“Policing continues to function largely because officers repeatedly step up, cancelling rest days, missing family time and working through fatigue. Making it easier and cheaper to intrude on that rest time is not a solution. It is a gamble with officer welfare and public safety."

22/03/2026

Devastating news as Kent Police announce the on duty death of PC Bradley Corke.

Thoughts of all at Avon and Somerset Police Federation are with Bradley's family, friends and close colleagues.

All at Kent Police Federation are devastated at the news of the on duty death of our colleague PC Bradley Corke.

Bradley, 27, died on Saturday following injuries sustained in a road traffic collision as he travelled to an emergency call in Swanley late on Thursday evening.

Our thoughts - and those of colleagues across the county and country - are with Bradley's family, friends and close colleagues.

Neil Mennie, Chair of Kent Police Federation, said: "We are all absolutely heartbroken to learn of this news.

"Bradley was a popular colleague who will be much missed and we will be doing all we can to support his family and close colleagues at this time.

"Policing is a family and words cannot describe the pain we are all feeling and how this news will affect us in the days, weeks and months ahead.

"This sad incident serves as a horrific example of the risks police officers face and how police officers can sadly make the ultimate sacrifice as they strive to keep the public safe."

Bradley served with Kent Police since May 2022. He was based in Tonbridge and spent his police service in the towns of West Kent.

Our thoughts also remain with Bradley's colleague who was critically injured in the incident.

If any officers are in need of support, please contact a line manager, Kent Police Federation or a Federation Representative.

19/03/2026

Alarming Police Officer assault numbers revealed. 134 police officers assaulted every day in the UK.

There were 14,768 convictions for assault against an emergency services worker in the year to June 2025, a 12% increase in two years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjwygelevpo

16/03/2026

Our latest podcast focusing on police conduct and the stress of lengthy investigations is available for colleagues to watch/listen to now on YouTube and Spotify.

In this clip, host Royston Martis and Chair Tom Gent discuss.

Watch in full here https://youtu.be/Iu8no2XiBTQ

Or listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/371yI33iZ1TboWamT3y7r9?si=cDevXCyyTNi-16MeyWr8nA&nd=1&dlsi=bcd8968f4b0d459c

12/03/2026

More officers will leave the job and others will be stretched to breaking point if there isn’t a fair police pay deal this year, the Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation has said.

Tom Gent said that he was backing the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)’s call for a minimum 7% annual pay rise for each of the next three years.

In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body for 2026, PFEW said the multi-year pay settlement was essential to improve retention, morale and operational capability. It also called for a raft of improvements to officer conditions, including increased allowances and annual leave.

By contrast, the National Police Chiefs’ Council is supporting a 3.5% pay rise if it is fully funded by the Government, or a below-inflation 2.5% if it is not.

Tom said: “Our officers are doing everything asked of them and more, but year after year they’re being asked to do it for less in real terms. In Avon and Somerset, we’re already seeing the impact: experienced colleagues walking away, newer officers under immense strain, and public safety being stretched to breaking point. Another real‑terms pay cut will only accelerate this decline.

"We are seeing experienced officers walk away from policing. Nationally, nearly half of our constables have five years’ service or less. Our officers simply can't afford to stay in policing, and it's our communities that suffer."

The PFEW is also calling for:

- Full recognition of the ‘P Factor’ in police pay, to properly reflect the risks, restrictions and obligations unique to policing.

- Fewer pay points for PCs to simplify progression and improve competitiveness, including removing the lowest pay points to reflect frontline expectations from day one.

- Increase the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20%, for work between 8pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

- Acting up and temporary promotion payments should be paid from day one and made pensionable.

- The maximum London and South East allowance should be paid as standard.

- Increased annual leave, with any unused leave to be paid.

- A new long-service leave and recuperation leave.

- Workload payments to Inspectors and Chief Inspectors should be extended, with additional pay for hours worked beyond 48 per week, pending a full review of the 1994 PNB Agreement.

11/03/2026

Remembering PC Kevin Stoodley, of Avon and Somerset Police, who died on duty on this day in 2015

07/03/2026

We have just been to the briefing for a public order operation in Bristol today. Lots of officers have had their Saturday off cancelled to come in and keep the public safe so a big thank you to them. A reminder too of the pressures frontline policing is under.

04/03/2026

Avon and Somerset Police Federation Statement

"Like many of our members, we were extremely concerned to learn of today’s arrests involving individuals connected to the national Police Federation.

"We want to be absolutely clear to every officer in Avon & Somerset: this investigation does not involve our local branch, our local elected officials, or anyone connected to our operations here.

"The Police Federation have stated they will cooperate fully with the relevant authorities. As with any investigation, it is important that due process is followed and that no assumptions are made while the facts are being established.

"Our focus here remains supporting and representing our members of Avon & Somerset with integrity, transparency and professionalism and this will remain the case.

“Officers already face immense strain, from rising workloads to increased scrutiny and uncertainty over pay and conditions.

"We want our officers in Avon and Somerset to know this: your local Federation remains stable, accountable, and focused entirely on you.”

Tom Gent, Chair, Avon & Somerset Police Federation
Marc Flavell, Secretary, Avon & Somerset Police Federation

03/03/2026

Police officers should have a minimum 7% annual pay rise for each of the next three years, the Police Federation of England and Wales has said.

In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body for 2026, the PFEW said the multi-year pay settlement was essential to improve retention, morale and operational capability.

By contrast, the National Police Chiefs’ Council is supporting a 3.5% pay rise if it is fully funded by the Government, or a below-inflation 2.5% if it is not.

The PFEW is also calling for:

- Full recognition of the ‘P Factor’ in police pay, to properly reflect the risks, restrictions and obligations unique to policing.

- Fewer pay points for constables to simplify progression and improve competitiveness, including removing the lowest pay points to reflect frontline expectations from day one.

- Increase the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20%, for work between 8pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

- Acting up and temporary promotion payments should be paid from day one and made pensionable.

- The maximum London and South East allowance should be paid as standard.

- Increased annual leave, with any unused leave to be paid.

- A new long-service leave and recuperation leave.

- Workload payments to Inspectors and Chief Inspectors should be extended, with additional pay for hours worked beyond 48 per week, pending a full review of the 1994 PNB Agreement.

02/03/2026

Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards – nominate your deserving colleagues now!

All at the Federation are delighted to be returning with our Third Recognition Awards in October this year to recognise and celebrate Police Officers who have gone above and beyond in their difficult roles.

And we now need you to nominate your deserving colleagues!

We are looking for nominations for the following categories:

- Bravery
- Unsung Hero
- Inspiration
- Detective
- Compassionate Officer
- Team of the Year
- Supervisor of the Year
- Response Officer of the Year

Please do let us know who you think is deserving of these Awards in our force - and provide us with a short citation as to why...

Please fill in the form with information on your deserving colleagues https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IJTX9mriHUe68V29n-n68zH2OkLNidtHi7xRDZ81qt1URExIUDM3WDFIRVEwOUQxTjlTOVBIUUtUVi4u&route=shorturl

You have until Friday 15 May to nominate.

Winners will be informed of their success in June and be invited to the prestigious evening in October.

Avon and Somerset Police Federation Chair Tom Gent said: "We are delighted to be returning with the Recognition Awards once again this year. It's now a firm fixture in the policing calendar.

"We encourage colleagues to nominate their fellow officers. Let us know about all the great police officers out there across Avon and Somerset and what they are doing - and we will highlight and celebrate their work."

27/02/2026

Sad news as West Midlands Police announce the off duty death of Detective Constable Tayyab Malik. Thoughts are with his family, friends and close colleagues at this time.

DC TAYYAB MALIK: FEDERATION RESPONSE

West Midlands Police Federation has extended its sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of a Force detective who died on Tuesday afternoon.

DC Tayyab Malik was 35.

Jess Davies, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, said: “Our thoughts are with Tayyab’s loved ones at this heartbreaking time.

READ MORE HERE:
https://polfed.org/westmids/news-and-events/news/2026/dc-tayyab-malik-federation-response/