Page 3 - Top Cover Issue 18

SUMMER 2023 TOP COVER 3

CONTENTS

4 STAYING SOCIAL
The PFOA’ s online profile

6 SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS
Welcome to The PFOA’s provision of support
and practical help over the past year 8
TOP COVER ADOPTION: A COMPLEX
7 COMMITMENT

Welcome to the latest edition of Top Cover.
A personal insight into adopting
The past 12 months or so have been challenging 12
for all in policing, not least those of you who 8 OPERATION FORTITUDE
carry firearms or make crucial decisions on the The perfect fuel for AFOs
deployment of armed resources.
It seems almost every week another story 12 THE NORTHANTS BEAT
breaks in the media about issues relating to A force looking for firearms officers
behaviour and conduct of those who put their WHEN A TRIAL BECOMES A TRIAL 16
lives on the line daily. In large organisations 16
there are always ‘bad apples’ and policing is no Former Met DC and now NZ resident
Emma Owens explores the challenges of
exception. However, what seems to get missed
New Zealand Police’ s firearms model
is the vast majority of good police officers going
about their work protecting the public.
I have always believed that firearms officers 20 CHALLENGE THE WILD
and those in command positions have been Wilderness walking for wellbeing 22
treated poorly in many cases over the years.
Add into the mix now an unhealthy desire 22 REWILDING FOR RECOVERY
by some to go all out to destroy people’s How outdoor pursuits and bushcraft
careers and livelihoods and we have the can offer a route to trauma recovery
potential to seriously damage recruitment and
is fundamental to policing, and policing needs 26 FIT FOR DUTY
retention within armed policing. Leadership
The State Red Fitness programme
good leaders, not leaders who decide to speak
up on their retirement; that’s too late. 29 PENSIONS AFTER DIVORCE
We’ve seen a sharp increase in requests for Advice on financial sharing options
support over the past 12 months. Our 24/7
MEET THE TEAM
Support Line is busier than ever; outgoing calls
Editor – Mark Williams
to those we are supporting have increased by
over 30%. Last year, for the first time, we spent Contact us: Produced by:
The Old Police Station, Chestnut Media
more than we received in donations, to the tune
18 East park Street, 25 Castle Street
of £84,000. I can only see us getting busier.
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1DR
This edition of Top Cover is very welfare PE16 6LD Tel: 07903 304319
focused. We make no apologies for that. T: 01354 697890 E: richard@chestnutmedia.co.uk
Everyone at our Chatteris HQ realises the E: info@pfoa.co.uk www.chestnutmedia.co.uk
importance of supporting our members and www.pfoa.co.uk
their families. We are proud and honoured to be © The Police Firearms Officers Association, 2021; reproduction strictly forbidden unless
able to help and serve you all. Please do not lose by prior arrangement with the publishers. Registered charity in England and Wales No.
1139247. Company No. 07295737.
sight of how much support you have from the The PFOA cannot accept any liability for losses incurred by any person as a result of a default
public; you are all that stands between them and on the part of an advertiser in Top Cover. The Editor reserves the right to amend or edit all
material as necessary, and where possible, with the consent of the contributor.
people intent on committing violent crime and
Gift Aid is available for charities to claim 25p in the pound back from donations made to
terrorism.
charity. You can ask for Gift Aid to be claimed on your behalf for your PFOA donations by
Stay safe and thanks for all you do. emailing the office at info@pfoa.co.uk, putting ‘Gift Aid donations’ in the subject box. Please
state your full name, house number and postcode. Gift Aid forms at the office contain these
Mark Williams, Editor mark@pfoa.co.uk details; we keep these records in case HMRC want to check that the name on a return is from
a bona fide taxpayer. We can then claim the Gift Aid back, and use it to support colleagues
and their families across the UK.
WWW.PFOA.CO.UK