West Midlands Police Mediation 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

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)

“ 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

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

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

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)

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 Advisers Listening -> Signposting -> Advice Started 1993 74 FCAs Own steering committee Issues: Equality Diversity Fairness Bullying Harassment Discrimination

Started 1993

74 FCAs

Own steering committee

Issues:

Equality

Diversity

Fairness

Bullying

Harassment

Discrimination

Chris Rowson, Head of Corporate Personnel Superintendent Angela Booton Becky Hess, HR Business Adviser [email_address] 0845 113 5000 x7800 6527

Chris Rowson, Head of Corporate Personnel

Superintendent Angela Booton

Becky Hess, HR Business Adviser

[email_address]

0845 113 5000 x7800 6527