The Police Federation: Role and Function

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) represents the interests of police officers up to and including the rank of Chief Inspector. It is not a trade union: police officers are prohibited from joining a trade union and from taking strike action by section 91 of the Police Act 1996. The Police Federation was established by the Police Act 1919 in the aftermath of the 1918-1919 police strikes, which led to the prohibition on police unionisation.

The Federation's primary functions are: to represent the views and interests of its members to the Home Secretary, the government, and other bodies; to negotiate on pay and conditions through the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB); to provide legal advice and representation to members facing disciplinary proceedings, criminal investigations, or civil claims; and to provide welfare support to serving and retired officers and their families.

Every officer from Constable to Chief Inspector is automatically a member of the Police Federation. The Federation is funded by member subscriptions. It is organised into 43 local branches (one per force) with a national board. The national chair is elected by members. The Federation has historically been influential in policing policy, though its relationship with government has sometimes been tense, particularly during periods of pay restraint or reform.

Senior officers (Superintendent and above) are represented by separate bodies: the Police Superintendents' Association (for Superintendents and Chief Superintendents) and the Chief Police Officers' Staff Association (CPOSA) for ACC, DCC, and Chief Constable ranks. These bodies perform similar representative functions for their members. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), chaired by a chief constable, coordinates operational policing activity at national level but is not a representative body for individual officers.