Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths OBE has published a blog reflecting on his six years of Service within the national office of the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) on the final day of his tenure of president.
Paul was elected to vice president of the PSA in 2016, before being elected as president in 2019.
Over the past six years he has been instrumental in the development of a number of major national initiatives designed to support association members and the wider service. These have included a national coaching and mentoring scheme which is now part of the College of Policing’s workforce offering and the Future Supers programme, supporting officers and staff from under represented groups into senior ranks.
Paul has published a blog reflecting on the past six years and looking ahead to what he sees as the challenges of policing in the coming years. In this he says:
“Leading the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) has given me opportunities I will always remember, posed challenges I would never have imagined facing and led me to new friendships and connections I will fondly treasure.
“Being elected to vice president of the PSA in 2016 therefore truly felt like an honour, and it cemented my determination to ensure that the association built on its position as an influential body in policing, that plays a part in delivering real results for our people, our police and our public.
“During the subsequent six years in which I have been part of the presidential team, I believe we have shown what can be done, even as a small organisation, with the right determination and unwavering commitment to positive change.
“We have much to do to become the Service and the culture we aspire to be, but we must never lose sight of what sits at the heart of the majority of our 220,000 strong workforce. Care – for our people, our police and our public.
“It's been an honour and a privilege to have served as PSA President. I thank everyone who has supported me in the role for the past three years and send my very best wishes to the new presidential team.”
From May, Paul will take on a new role as assistant national secretary for the association.
From Monday 21st March, Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham of Kent Police will begin his three-year tenure as president, alongside Chief Superintendent Harvi Khatkar of West Midlands Police who will serve as vice president. Both were elected by the PSA’s National Executive Committee in January.
Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing said: “I’d like to offer a massive personal thanks from me and everyone at the College for the role Paul has played as a member of our board, for everything he’s done for developing leadership in the service, for developing mentors, and for supporting leadership at every level, but most of all for what he’s done to support his members who do such a brilliant, difficult and demanding job. He deserves every happiness in his next role and I thank him for making me so welcome when I came into this national role.”
Martin Hewitt, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “I’d like to offer many congratulations and best wishes to Paul as he marks his final day as president of the PSA.
“I’d also like to share my thanks for the way we’ve worked together over the past 3 years of his tenure, which has been extremely beneficial for the Service. Paul has been a great advocate for the association and his members - and he came up with the name of the ‘blue team’, something I have stolen with pride ever since.
“Sending my very best wishes for the future on behalf of everyone at the NPCC, and a sincere thank you for everything he has done.”
