Transcript

CHIEF CONSTABLE ALEX MARSHALL:

We have our annual conference today. We're holding it at Sunningdale. This year the theme of the conference, the entire conference, is vulnerability in all its forms. And as we know from the work we did on demand, the biggest shift in police work in recent years as well as online work is the move towards policing vulnerability and protecting people who might be vulnerable for a whole range of reasons.

We think this is hugely important, and I hope the way we have designed the day and the speakers and the workshops that we will all be able to move on further in improving our skills and professionalism in the area of vulnerability.

So we have the Home Secretary speaking-- very positive about the work at the college. Talked about some additional funding to help us do more work around vulnerability, including a licence to practise.

RT HON AMBER RUDD MP:

You have the power to make a real difference to the experience vulnerable people have of our policing system with the college at the centre supporting police professionalism and driving reform. And central to this reform agenda, as I have announced today, will be the establishment of a licence to practise, which will ensure that only those officers who are qualified to work in high-risk areas like child protection, are able to do so

CHIEF CONSTABLE ALEX MARSHALL:

We then had probably the most powerful presentation I've ever seen at a conference which was delivered by the mother of Breck Brednar, who was murdered having been groomed online. And Lorin, his mother, came to speak at the conference today. And in a deeply moving way, explained what had happened to her son, how she had contacted the police, what had not gone well, and the lessons we could all learn from it.

We then broke into a whole series of workshops at the conference-- some focusing on perpetrators, offenders, and how we prevent them from committing more harm, issues around mental health and how mental health can be a big aspect of vulnerability, issues around victim care and how we protect people who are vulnerable and keep them within the system and keep them safe. And we'll bring that all back together this afternoon with a panel. And I will summarise the learning from the day.

It's been very powerful. There have been some moments today that have really, really, really made me reflect. I hope you leave here also reflecting on the shared learning that we've brought together in the room.

But in many ways, we've got the converted here today. And I think it's an opportunity to give them the best current knowledge for them as champions then to take it out into the wider policing world.

PHIL MILLS: I thought it was really interesting listening to the talk about the Breck Foundation and the real importance of call handling and the information and then the follow-up as to what we're telling people that have make contact with us and what that means and the training for staff that are involved in that call handling.

RHIANNON KIRK:

It just strikes home to me that everything we are trying to do around THRIVE and just recognising that vulnerability is just so crucial.

ALICIA SHAW:

It's about not just ticking boxes but putting into practise what you preach and really in relation to training supports.

DAVID MORGAN:

And Dr. Ian Hesketh with the internal dimension on vulnerability and well-being being, I think that is crucial as well. So we shouldn't forget that.

RACHEL WARD:

And as a line manager, I need to be aware of where people are perhaps not coping and do the right thing by them.

JON CUMMINS:

It was an exciting opportunity to listen from the fairly newly appointed Home Secretary and for her to talk about some national policing issues around vulnerability. Also to hear about some of the exciting practise that will be forthcoming through the licence to practise and the College of Policing and some of the efforts that they make in their own national standards in policing as well.

JANE DERRICK:

I thought it was really well-organized. I think if you're not a member of the College of Policing, you should join up because this was really good. All the other support is valuable to you. And that it just helps you do your day job. So I would recommend any of the conference. People just come along and spend the day here and enjoy it really.

[MUSIC PLAYING]