Paul McKeever has taken over as the chairman of the Police Federation, the organisation which represents rank and file officers.
He succeeds Jan Berry, who retired at the federation’s annual conference last week.
McKeever, a Metropolitan Police sergeant, said: “It is a great honour to be elected chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales and a great privilege to follow in the footsteps of such an influential predecessor as Jan Berry. I will help move the federation positively forward through a time of great, and often tough, change.
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“The police officers I represent throughout England and Wales are truly remarkable people and I am very proud to be able to lead them. This is a golden opportunity for us all to work together creating open dialogue with members, stakeholders and the public and making sure our voices are heard by those who need to listen.”
Berry had been in the role six years. Last week she grilled the home secretary Jacqui Smith over her decision to ignore the police pay deal agreed by independent arbitration. The federation’s members threatened industrial action including strikes if arbitration to agree police pay deals was not binding in future.
