Jun 10 - GDP Federation Chairman Attends London Conference
The GDP Federation Chairman Mr. Martin Hosken attended the Defence Police Federation (DPF) Conference on the 8th and 9th June in London Stansted. Mr Hosken said the DPF's hospitality was “excellent.”
During the Conference the GDP Federation Chairman was able to engage with both the Defence Police Federation Committee, the MDP Chief Constable and other stakeholders such as legal advisors and the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA). The DPF share similar struggles and challenges to that of the GDP Federation.
Lord Earl Howe in his address to the DPF Conference praised the excellent and specialist capability provided by the MDP but admitted that uncertainty over the future was impacting upon recruitment and retention. The MDP’s excellent and specialist Police Capability is mirrored by the GDP for MOD Gibraltar.
The MDP Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock was also appreciative of the members of the DPF in their role in delivering its specialist Policing service to the MOD in the UK. He warned that cuts could impact upon National Security and stated that replacing Policing functions with military personnel was “not a sensible thing to do”. At times the relationship between the DPF and the MDP Senior Management can be tense but the Chief Constable welcomed the tension and the constructive issues raised by the DPF.
The DPF Chairman Eamon Keating stated that the DPF could expect a challenging 12 months ahead. Mr Hosken said that these are sentiments that the GDP Federation Committee shares for its members adding that the issue of recruitment and retention of GDP Officers “is a concern for the GDP Federation.” Mr Hosken also said that the GDP Federation hopes that vacancies for the GDP will be advertised by early September 2016 at the latest.
(Pics: Above left: Lord Howe. Below: MDP Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock)
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