Chair:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft
As I'm sure most of you already know, Mick Roebuck recently stood down from the editorship of the Newsletter, having left it in robust good health. I'm sure you will all join with me in thanking him for the major contribution he has made to the RPGA, for most of whose members there is nothing more important than the Newsletter. This is my first edition and I hope to continue the tradition of producing a newsletter worthy of the members. From time to time I may use the privileges of editorship to have my say and those of you know me would not expect anything less. As a firm believer in free speech, I can promise there will no censorship of opposing or critical views.
Some of you will be aware that I was the last editor of "The Key," the PGA's own in-house magazine. After I retired there was one final magazine devoted solely to unedited speeches from the 2010 conference, which brought publication to a close after 20 years and 79 issues. It was a great privilege to be Editor and largely enjoyable, but the biggest problem was
persuading serving members to contribute. Those of you who still possess old editions, particularly from the 1990s, can't fail to notice that there was a real willingness to have a say about both criminal justice matters and trade union concerns.
Some of the contributors went on to very senior positions in the Service. By 2007 when I became Editor, it had become extremely difficult to get pieces and in the end the magazine became unhealthily identified with me. Out in the field freedom of speech had been effectively suppressed as people genuinely feared for their careers if they spoke out. This was (and remains) a very sad state of affairs. An organisation benefits from friendly and intelligent internal criticism, particularly from those with leadership roles. It ossifies if discussion is only permitted within approved boundaries and initiative is stifled.
Fortunately retired members are not so inhibited. Nevertheless there is no room for complacency as the voluntary principle in our society gradually erodes. It is your magazine and you make it, not the Editor. As long as people have their opinions to express, their activities in retirement to tell us about, and former colleagues to pass on news about, then the Newsletter will continue to thrive. Any changes I make I hope will be organic and in the spirit of continuity. It is important that the Newsletter you know and love remains familiar and accessible.
PAUL LAXTON, EDITOR