Our face-to-face conference will now be held virtually

Sometimes we all need time away from the demands of our work.

Fish on Fridays started as a dial-in for people to listen to a light-hearted, reflection on the mood and events of the week from one of our Force Chaplains in Thames Valley Police.

The aim is to encourage us all to enjoy a short wellbeing break, and take time to focus on something non-work and non-Covid related. They are non-religious, so anyone can listen in.

We have recently migrated to MS Teams for 2021, so we can now see each other too, even if it’s a bad hair day. After all, we are in this together! It is important not to feel isolated, especially working at home, so this is a great opportunity to connect with others across the force.

Some of the previous titles include:

The announcement by the Prime Minister of national lockdown measures will have implications for how Police Chaplaincy is delivered in forces and we have had some requests for advice and guidance to assist in making decisions.

Each individual force will have policies and procedures regarding COVID, both to deal with Operational response and also its own internal resilience and support. Chaplains should be aware of these. This advice, guidance and suggestions must be interpreted in the light of your own Force policy.

Officers and staff are under considerable pressure during these times and as Chaplains we are committed to offering whatever support we can to both individuals and the organisation. Guidance from Operation Talla just prior to Christmas recognised that chaplaincy is an important source of support.

Policing is clearly a vital service and even more so with the increased and complex demands of the current pandemic. Police Chaplaincy has an important role to play as part of the support structure that enables the force and individuals function and, if not already done so, it is vital for Lead Chaplains to have a conversation with your Senior Management Team as to how this can best be provided and enabled. Most forces are encouraging people to work from home where this is at all possible and there will be differences across forces as to whether the role of the Chaplain can be fulfilled away from the workplace. This may differ for the Lead Chaplain and the other members of a chaplaincy team.

Covid regulations allow volunteering and charitable work to continue. The Operation Talla guidance was to clarify that whilst some forces have, understandably, temporarily withdrawn volunteers, the role of the chaplaincy volunteers should be seen in the wider perspective of staff well being and where possible allow access to the workplace. However, just because you can does not mean you should.  You must follow the guidance given by your Lead Chaplain or Chaplaincy Coordinator and keep them informed if you are requested visit stations or individuals.

Visibility - It is important that Police Chaplaincy remains visible.
This may be done by visits, but other ways should be considered.
Suggestions include; 

• Refresh Chaplaincy Posters both physical and online:
• Ensure your internal ‘intranet’ page is up to date and perhaps request your Comms Dept to highlight it
• Use email to contact individuals, departments or stations.
• Could you record a short message for use in force or at briefings that offer support and say how to make contact
• Telephone people especially key leaders, Staff Associations, Staff Support Networks, and line managers to support them and also to ensure they have your contact information.

 
Accessibility – how can people make contact?
Ensure that contact information for the Chaplaincy and your own details are up to date and accurate. Ask how this can be highlighted force wide and more locally [eg email; at briefings; via the force intranet]

Responsibility – ‘every contact leaves a trace’
Some Chaplains will need to self isolate because of their own vulnerability or that of relatives and not, at the current time, be able to offer their service. This is fine.

We should also be mindful of our personal responsibility to maintain operational resilience e.g. many forces are operating in ‘bubbles’ or separate teams. Visiting may well compromise that and contaminate – remember the forensic adage, ‘every contact leaves a trace’.

If you are physically present, either routinely or by specific request, strictly adhere to all guidance regarding PPE, hand-washing etc to maintain a COVID secure environment.

We hope this guidance is useful, thank you for all you do.

Charles Nevin - Chair, Police Chaplaincy UK
& PCUK Trustees

 Congratulations to all in Policing recognised in the New Year’s Honours list but especially to;-
Rev’d Glynne James, Principal Police Chaplain, South Wales Police for services to Police Chaplaincy & to the community in Gorseinon, Swansea on the award of the BEM.

Read more about Glynne's six and a half decades of public service Here

Chaplains from Forces across the UK led small socially distanced acts of remembrance on Armistice Day 2020. Due to current restrictions large gatherings were not possible but police forces marked the important day in Covid compliant ways to ensure those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom were not forgotten.

Pictured above from Left to right, top to bottom:
Northamptonshire Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, West Midlands Police
Durham Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary, Surrey Police

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You can view the latest NPMD newsletter here

In it you can read about the incredible number of people who accessed the event through various social media. 

You can click on links to watch the event again - either in its entirety or just the parts you wish to view again. 

There is also information about the postponed Dance of a Thousand Lights which is now scheduled to take place on 24th October at 5.45 p.m.

The Tribute Wall was very popular but has now been closed.  However you can view the tributes through the home page of www.nationalpolicememorialday.org.

The Met’s Senior Chaplain Jonathan Osborne has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Senior Chaplain, Reverend Prebendary Jonathan Osborne joined the Met 11 years ago. He has been called upon to support officers and staff and respond to numerous tragic events, including the Grenfell Tower fire. He is the centre of the pastoral, spiritual and religious care within the Met, as well as being an outstanding ambassador for policing.

Jonathan supported the Met and PC Keith Palmer’s family following the tragic events in Westminster in 2017. He led the one minute silences, advised senior officers and held support sessions for officers who responded, to help them deal with the murder of their colleague. Jonathan helped to make the arrangements for Keith’s funeral by spending time with his family and friends and ensured it was fitting and appropriate. He regularly joins officers on frontline patrols and serves as a volunteer police officer. He has established strong links with representatives of all religions, both inside and outside the Met and founded a forum to bring together religious leaders from across London.

For the last three years, Jonathan has also served as Deputy Priest in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen at the Chapel Royal.

Jonathan said: “I’m humbled and proud to receive this award. It’s even more special as it is for the job I absolutely love and for the work I do with some of the most amazing people.

Lead Chaplain Helen Arnold Writes

During Covid restrictions, how to keep everyone feeling included has been at the forefront of our thinking. However much we like our pyjamas, working from home can be very isolating, as well as difficult for many practical reasons. At a time when people have needed more support and reassurance, when they are cut off at home for whatever reason, the rising anxiety about the state of the world, illness and unemployment, chaplains are still available to provide that listening ear even if not face to face. While unable to visit at stations in our usual way, we stay in touch through phone calls, and video-link with individuals.

Chaplaincy offers support for your whole wellbeing including the spiritual. We hope to build trust through relationships, so that in times of stress or personal difficulty, people will feel able to talk to someone who understands. It is often at these times that people feel ‘ex-cluded’, or up a creek without a paddle, when they feel they can’t cope in the usual turmoil of life.

The chaplaincy we provide to you as police officers and staff, as well as families on occasion, works hard to be inclusive. We respect people from all walks of life with different experiences and backgrounds, we aim to be non-judgemental and good listeners. We are so very fortunate that we have 6 faiths represented among our team of 30 volunteer chaplains; Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Pagan. We share experiences and knowledge, which I think is what inclusion is all about. Understanding grows.

You may be aware we introduced ‘Fish on Fridays’; a weekly thought-for-the-day dial-in to help people to feel that they are still connected, whether at home or working in offices but distanced.

National Chaplain extends the thoughts and prayers of all at Police Chaplaincy UK

All at Police Chaplaincy UK extend our thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Police Sergeant Matt Ratana who died in such tragic circumstances yesterday..  It is another bleak reminder of the dangers faced each day by police officers and staff and the ultimate price some pay.  This Sunday is National Police Memorial Day and this annual event is a reminder of the loss of almost 5000 officers who have died whilst on duty. This year NPMD is a live virtual service and you are invited to join us in time for 3pm on Sunday 27^th September and can do so via this link

NPMD2020 at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday.  The video will also be available thereafter via the the NPMD website.   The Tribute Wall has been well supported as has the lighting of the virtual candles.  These are still available so please add to them here.   Please share this information with those you know and encourage them to watch the event.

Canon David Wilbraham MBE | National Police Chaplain | Coordinator, National Police Memorial Day

Pictured above:
(Some of!) The Hampshire Constabulary Volunteer Team of the Year with Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney and Lead Chaplain Rev’d Dom Jones.
The team were presented their award in a socially distanced award ceremony in August 2020

The Force volunteer chaplaincy team launched in June 2018 with the deployment of the first volunteer chaplain. Chaplaincy sits within the Wellbeing offer for our officers, staff, volunteers and their families. Multi-faith volunteer chaplains, are representatives of all religions and none, they are people who possess a passion for their local community including their local police force.

The fundamental role of a chaplain is to provide safe, independent, confidential support and understanding to all, regardless of whether any defined religious belief is followed. The volunteer chaplaincy team are deployed Force wide based in different police stations to offer a confidential listening ear to those of all faiths or none.

The chaplains spend a lot of time walking around the stations building relationships with the officers and staff and also accompany them on operational patrol to get an insight into the policing world, chaplains also support Force wide events such as interfaith week, baby-loss week and inclusion week. They and have also “staffed” the wellbeing van during its visit to Basingstoke PIC after the death of PC Andrew Harper.

Canon David Wilbraham MBE
National Chaplain
Police Chaplaincy UK

We are delighted to announce that the National Chaplain for PCUK has been recognised by Her Majesty in the New Year's Honours, the citation reads "Revd Canon David Wilbraham, for services to Policing".

Upon hearing that he was to receive the award David writes:

“Policing, in one guise or another, has been my vocation and passion for over 40 years. I am humbled and thrilled to receive this recognition and award. Thank you to all, whose lives, over the years, have helped shape who I am. To have been involved in the growth of Police Chaplaincy over the past 10/15 years has been very, very rewarding and to be part of its ongoing and significant contribution across UK Policing is tremendous."

David, a former Police motorcyclist, was ordained in 1988 and held parish ministries in the North West of England, was a Prison Chaplain at a Young Offenders Institute and was involved in a large scale Eastern European Aid project in Romania. In 1994 he moved to Surrey Police as their Welfare Manager specialising in the impact of Trauma on Police personnel.

Since January 2019, Police Chaplaincy UK has been working with Bedfordshire Police to recruit new chaplains and to relaunch the Chaplaincy Service within Bedfordshire Police. Following presentations, interviews and vetting, fourteen new chaplains are now in post. On Monday 14th October, an Induction Training day was held at Bedfordshire Police HQ. At the start of the day, the Chief Constable welcomed the volunteer chaplains to the force and affirmed the value of chaplaincy within the service, encouraging those present to see themselves as an important part of the Bedfordshire Police family and to make their individual contributions to the service. The course was led by Adrian Gatrill and David Wilbraham with input from Paul Thomas, National Chair of the Fire & Rescue Service Chaplains Association of Great Britain and Islands.

The chaplains will have a combined role, serving both the Police Service and Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service. The enthusiastic group found the day useful and, as well as their ongoing training, will keep in touch via their own Whatsapp group formed on the day.

At this time the thoughts and prayers of the nation are with PC Andrew Harper’s family and we here at Police Chaplaincy UK are no different.

Thank you to all the chaplains across the country who are supporting officers and staff at this time, especially the chaplaincy team in Thames Valley Police. Click here to see a video of the Thames Valley Tribute.

TVP Tribute

Lissie Harper has released a tribute to her husband. Please click on the link below to see this.

Tribute to Andrew Harper

Andrew will be remembered at The National Police Memorial Day Sunday on 29th September 2019 at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

We also remember and give thanks for the life of Mr Simon Prince, QPM, a former Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police and supporter and advocate of Police Chaplaincy. We thank God for Simon's life, service and commitment and especially support of and for Police Chaplaincy, including helping secure the post of a National Police Chaplain. We are also mindful of his wife and family whom we hold in our prayers.

Taken from Facebook - Tribute to Mr Simon Prince QPM

Chief Constable Mark Collins said: “It is with great sadness that we receive the news of Mr Simon Prince’s death. Mr Prince served with Dyfed-Powys as Chief Constable between 2013 and 2016 having previously served for 22 years with Gwent Police. He was a well-respected, fair and supportive Chief Constable who led the force through some significant changes and maintained the forces position as one of the safest places in England and Wales. I will be writing to Mr Prince’s family to send them condolences on behalf of Dyfed-Powys Police and the force flag at Headquarters is being flown at half-mast in remembrance of Mr Prince.”

Save the date
Conference 2020 29th June - 1st July 2020 Swanwick, Derby

As we inhabit a changing world, with global migration, political upheaval, threat of terrorism, and considerations of identity and gender on a personal level, what does faith look like in this environment?  What are the threats and gains?  What values will we take with us as chaplains in order to serve the police?

Rev John Butcher has been awarded a British Empire Medal – given for outstanding military or civil service – in acknowledgement of his work expanding the force’s multi-faith chaplaincy and its contribution to modern-day policing.

See the full article from WMP here

A brand new memorial to honour the lives of all those who have served the police with Hampshire Constabulary has been unveiled at the Force’s Support and Training Headquarters.

The garden, which features a Hampshire rose sculpted fountain, prairie-style planting and seating areas, was officially opened during a special ceremony on Thursday, 23 May by Lady Avril Hoddinott, the widow of former Chief Constable Sir John Hoddinott.

The project to bring this idea to reality began in 2015 and was led by a steering group consisting of Constabulary officers and staff, the families of officers and staff who have lost their lives, the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sparsholt College, the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund, the Police Federation and Unison. The garden has been funded by Hampshire Constabulary, the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund

Garden design students from Sparsholt College in Winchester were invited to present concepts to Hampshire Constabulary as part of their academic studies.

Three finalists were considered by a group of judges including Hampshire Constabulary Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane, Sparsholt College lecturer Chris Prior, and Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, representing the Southampton Police Club Trust Fund.

Chaplains from many different Forces led acts of Remembrance over the Armistice weekend.

Services took place across the country right from Bodmin in Devon & Cornwall Police to much further afield and one Police Chaplain even accompanied his Force band to France for Remembrance!

To see photos of their activities please click on the link

Photos

The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police along with the Force Chaplain proudly unveiled a plaque which holds the names of the Buckinghamshire TVP officers who lost their lives in World War 1. They were warmly welcomed by Judge Sheridan and other court staff at the Crown Court.

I am delighted to be able to share with you the first annual report for Hampshire Constabulary Force Chaplaincy, outlining the progress that has been made since the service was launched in June 2017.

Looking After Our People is at the heart of all we do as a force. Taking good care of our officers, staff, volunteers and their families enables us in turn to deliver an outstanding service to the public.

Chaplaincy is one of the many ways that we are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of all those under our care, whether they have a faith or not, when they need help or just someone independent to talk to.

This report describes the progress and development of the network since my appointment as full-time chaplain.

Rev'd Dom Jones - Force Chaplain, Hampshire Constabulary

The national training conference has just taken place (from 9-11th July) at The Hayes in Derbyshire. Our speakers included Rabbi Dov Benyaacov-Kurtzman, Chief Superintendent John Sutherland (Retired), Bernard Seymour, legal advisor, and Chief Superintendent Gavin Thomas, President of the Police Superintendents Association. There were a number of workshops, dealing with social media, police funerals, spirituality and multifaith chaplaincy. We also had a series of "lightning talks" - short, five minute presentations on a variety of topics.

Members of Police Chaplaincy UK may download some of the PowerPoint presentations used by speakers by logging in and going to "Members - Conference Reports - National Conference, 2018".

On Tuesday 19th June 2018, fourteen, brand new, volunteer police chaplains attended the Netley Headquarters in Hampshire Constabulary for their Induction Training with Police Chaplaincy UK. The new chaplains represent four, different faiths and have just recently completed applications, interviews and vetting. They are currently being deployed across Hampshire to support both officers and staff.

Rev’d Dom Jones, the Force Lead Chaplain, said: "I am so excited about the development of our team here in Hampshire. We are currently one year into our brand new adventure of having chaplaincy in the constabulary and to be launching with a team of multifaith chaplains is a major milestone for us. I look forward to seeing this fantastic provision develop further over the coming years."

Revd Adrian Gatrill from Durham delivered the training course for Hampshire Constabulary and chaplains from Thames Valley Police and Wiltshire also joined them for the day.

Those who attended the course were very positive about the experience and the content of the course.

Richard Armitage, the former Lead Chaplain for Wiltshire Police, has undertaken a significant study of police suicides. We are very happy to commend the fruits of his labours to you.

The publishers describe Richard's book as follows:

This text makes a primary and informed contribution to a subject that is under-researched in the UK — the suicide of those who work in the UK police service — by offering an analysis of UK case studies of officers and staff who have either completed suicide or experienced suicide ideation, and referring to the likely prime suicide precipitators in these situations. This analysis is followed by an examination of literature that discusses general and police-specific suicide. The text then examines intervention measures and support mechanisms that are currently offered to those working in the police service, as well as other measures that might be introduced in the future. Designed for criminal justice professionals and affected laypeople, including the families of those in the police service, Police Suicide is a crucial text for any who have an interest in the holistic and psychological welfare of police officers and staff.

If you are interested in ordering a copy, please use the link to the publisher's website in the button below.

This is an article that appeared in the Church Times on 16th June 2017. It looks specifically at the work of police chaplains in the wake of the recent terrorist incidents in Manchester and London. Please note that this is a link to an external website that will open in a new tab on your browser. Please note that this link may expire at some point...

A Presence on the Beat

Last year a bid was made to Police and Crime Commissioners for funding to support the rôle of National Police Chaplain as a dedicated resource for police chaplaincy across England & Wales. Following a long and protracted process that was frustrated by the PCC elections last year, the bid was successful, and funding has been secured for a period of five years. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) is now looking to the Board of Police Chaplaincy UK (NACP), as representing police chaplains across England and Wales, to nominate the person they think should fulfil this rôle.

It would be the Board’s intention, subject to any other expressions of interest, that Canon David Wilbraham, who has been (unpaid) National Police Chaplain for the past six years should continue in this rôle for a further fixed period of five years. As you are aware, David has fulfilled this role in addition to his position as Lead Chaplain for Thames Valley Police.

Expressions of interest from others who may wish to be considered for this strategic rôle should be notified to the undersigned by Friday 24 February 2017.

Whilst this development and the establishment of Police Chaplain UK (as the successor to NACP) are separate projects, there are clearly strong links between the two. The National Police Chaplain will function, in essence, as the Chief Executive of our organisation, and will be accountable to the Board of Police Chaplaincy UK, which will act on behalf of the APCC in this regard.

Canon Adrian Gatrill

A regional meeting of Police Chaplaincy UK in Wales will be taking place on Friday 12th May 2017 at Heddlu Dyfed-Powys Headquarters, Llangynnwr, Carmarthen.

Recently, the Kent Police Chaplains submitted a report to the Chief Constable and to the Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd James Langstaff, on the multi-faceted work carried out by chaplains over the past year. There are sections from various different chaplains, looking at all sorts of situations in divisions and departments across the Force. You may view the report in your browser by clicking on the button below.

Kent Police Chaplaincy Report, 2016

Staffordshire Police will be licensing a new Lead Chaplain on 16th September this year. Revd Stephen Parker will be taking over from Darren McIndoe, who asks members to pray particularly for the service at which the Bishop of Stafford, Rt Rev Geoff Annas, will officiate. Members who have logged in will be able to view or download the service sheet in the members' area.

Gary Colville (Kent Police) recently spent some time in the USA at the weeklong event of Memorial, Memory and Metanoia in Washington DC and in Alexandria, Virginia. His thoughts on this event are worth reading and you can open a PDF document in a new window by clicking here.

Durham Constabulary's Lead Chaplain and Deputy National Police Chaplain, the Revd Adrian Gatrill, is to be made a Non-Residentiary Canon of Durham Cathedral.

The position is an honorary one and is offered to clergy who have made a significant contibtion to the life of the church within the diocese. The offer of a canonry was made to Adrian by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, "in recognition of your work as police chaplain."

Adrian became Durham's Lead Chaplain in 2011 after serving for nearly twenty-three years as a chaplain in the RAF. Of his appointment he said, "This is a huge honour and came as a complete surprise, especially as I've been in the Diocese of Durham for such a relatively short time. The biggest compliment is that police chaplaincy has been recognised as an important area of the church's ministry, and that is very gratifying."

The service at which Adrian will be installed as a Non-Residentiary Canon will take place in Durham Cathedral on Sunday 19 June at 3.30pm.

David Wilbraham, Adrian Gatrill and Simon Evans attended the Police Federation Conference in Bournemouth this week.  This was a really useful networking event and it was encouraging that chaplaincy is recognised by the Police Federation as making a difference.  One Federation Delegate came up to the stall and said "Chaplains are great, you are doing a fantastic job, all over the place. Thank you!"