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An Essex Police staff member has been recognised nationally for her vital work during the pandemic.
Margaret Davis helped to ensure fellow police officers and staff stayed safe so they could help to keep our county safe throughout.
And now she’s been named runner-up in the Police Staff Member of the Year category of the Inspire Justice Awards.
Margaret has a wealth of experience in helping to keep people safe. Initially joining us as a member of police staff in what is now our Operational Policing Command in 1996, ten years later she was seconded to Unison as deputy branch secretary. She also became the union’s health and safety branch officer, two posts she’s held ever since.
During the pandemic, she sat on the force’s Covid Response board and played a crucial role in ensuring adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) was being supplied to police staff and police officers, which included screens to separate staff in our Force Control Room and appropriate masks for everyone in custody, from staff to detainees.
Margaret was nominated for this work and also for assisting and supporting colleagues struggling with mental health, those with disabilities or caring responsibilities and those who were deemed more vulnerable and at risk of catching Covid.
She also ensured reasonable adjustments were implemented for those who worked from home.
Margaret says:
“During the pandemic, so much anxiety was felt, both by police staff and police officers, about coming to work and being in contact with each other and the public.
“I worked with the force to achieve the most appropriate personal protective equipment for our police staff and officers to use in the varied situations they work in.
“And we had to consider the needs of those who were working from home, to ensure they weren’t isolated and were included in all our decision-making.
“I hope I was able to alleviate some of that anxiety by doing this and helped them feel better able to carry out their roles to keep Essex and its residents safe during what was an unprecedented and extremely worrying time for all of us.”
Our HR Director Richard Leicester says:
“I’m delighted that Margaret has been recognised nationally for all her work helping to keep our people safe during the pandemic so that they, in turn, could continue keeping our communities safe across our county.
“To have been named runner-up in a highly-competitive pool of nominees is a fantastic achievement and reflects the significant positive impact Margaret’s work had on Essex Police, and the public, during a what was a very challenging time.
“Margaret should be very proud, as are we, of her work supporting effective health and safety practices in the workplace.”
Margaret is passionate about fair play, treating people as individuals and workers’ rights. She adds:
“Health and safety is for everyone. We all deserve to go home safely after work. There are so many people who don’t and it’s always important to remember that.”
At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities.
If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.
Find out if you #FitTheBill by visiting our careers page.