West Midlands Police managing workplace conflict

West Midlands Police

Our vision is to reduce crime and disorder and make our communities feel safer

West Midlands PoliceMediation Scheme



• 8729 Police Officers• 4403 Police Staff• 804 PCSOs• 591 Special Constables• 21 OCUs covering over 902 km2 with a

population of 2.6m people



Sir Paul Scott-Lee (former Chief Constable 2002-2009)

“we keep being asked to smooth things out (…) and find a solution to people’s problems (…) we seem to be the first port of call in any dispute rather than one that’s called upon in extremes” (Newsbeat March 2009)



WMP Resolution Procedure

• Early intervention pre formal procedure• Realistic timescales• Better communication• Proportionate investigations • Independent adjudication• Greater support for all involved• Increase use of mediation • Better data (trends/hot spots/spikes)• Learning from experience



WMP Mediation Scheme

• Commenced 2004• 18 mediators• 95 cases to date• 54 resolved• 24 partially resolved

• ACAS accreditation• Facilitative approach• 3 week timeframe• Anonymity• Confidentiality• Flexible outcomes• Individual

responsibility

2007 81 Resolutions

28 mediation referrals

2008 84 Resolutions

17 mediation referrals



Challenges• Mediation scheme underused• Misunderstanding of the process• Mediation imposed by Managers• Perceptions (stigma, blame,

confidentiality, trust/confidence, buy-in)• Resilience• Communicating outcomes/needs• Evaluation (quantitative/qualitative)



First Contact AdvisersListening → Signposting → Advice

• Started 1993• 74 FCAs• Own steering

committee

Issues:• Equality• Diversity• Fairness• Bullying• Harassment• Discrimination



Chris Rowson, Head of Corporate PersonnelSuperintendent Angela Booton

Becky Hess, HR Business Adviser

[email protected] 113 5000 x7800 6527

West Midlands Police managing workplace conflict

Business

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