Page 9 - police world Edition 3 2013

Article
Police World Vol 58 No.3 2013 9
Early in 2011 a survey of Section UK
Secretaries established that 25
Regions/Branches and Interest
Groups had either a twinning or a special
arrangement with overseas members.
11 Region has been twinned with 3 Region
Gothenburg in Sweden since 2009. The idea
for 11 Region to twin was first suggested in
2008 by the late Roger Lincoln, former NEC
member, who was living in Gothenburg at the
time. It was progressed by the then President
of 3 Region Gothenburg, May-Britt Rinaldo, and
the then 11 Region Secretary, Edwin Sutton.
The 2011 survey also revealed that certain
benefits resulted from twinning initiatives.
These benefits were quoted as: “Friendship
and closer working practices; Friendships that
continue on an individual basis; Friendships
that can be deeper than family; Return visits
year on year, building strong long lasting
relationships; International travel; Insight into
overseas policing issues; Ensures the Branch is
truly international in its activities; an
opportunity to learn about, and to tell others
about, your own local cultures; Networking
opportunities; Raises the profile of the IPA
across the world and Another positive benefit
to add to the list of ‘why join IPA’.”
My wife, Vivienne Catherall-Powell and I, Edwin
Sutton and his wife made the first visit to
Gothenburg in March 2009 on behalf of 11
Region. We also attended Gothenburg’s Annual
General Meeting where we met many of their
members and were very well looked after. Clear
evidence that Twinning provides opportunities
for travel for the member.
In return for our visit, in 2009, 11 Region
organised for 10 members of 3 Region
Gothenburg to stay at the Police Federation
Headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey and to
attend the 11 Region meeting. At the meeting
our visitors gave a presentation about
Gothenburg which was a great opportunity to
share each other’s local culture. Again these
reciprocal meetings and exchanges were a
direct result of the Twinning initiative and as
the relationship developed between 11 Region
and Gothenburg further events
were organised.
The following year, 11 Region
hosted the UK IPA National
Council Meeting (NCM) in June
at the Felbridge Hotel in West
Sussex, which coincided with
the IPA’s 60th Anniversary. We were pleased to
meet up again with friends from Gothenburg.
They enjoyed the dedication ceremony held at
Guildford Cathedral and attended the NCM.
December 2011 saw a number of 11 Region
members and partners visiting Gothenburg, as
a full programme had been arranged - which
included a trip on a police boat, a visit to the
Volvo factory, to see the assembly line for
police cars built there, and being hosted at a
wonderful Christmas meal at the Liseberg Park
Christmas Market.
While I was there, I celebrated my birthday and
was given presents by my 3 Region friends of
moose and reindeer ornaments which I collect.
More evidence of the kind of relationships that
develop on many levels through Twinning.
Twinning also really does have long term
networking benefits as May-Britt Rinaldo, who
has since become President of IPA Sweden,
and her colleague Britt Hermansson made a
visit to London in October 2012. Both attended
the 11 Region Meeting held in Bromley and
they invited 11 Region members to come to
their next regional meeting in March 2013.
Quite a coup for 11 region!
Twinning also presents opportunities to study.
Donna Powell, the 11 Region Publicity Officer
and now Regional Vice Chair, Vivienne and I
took up the invitation to attend a Gothenburg
Regional Meeting. We enjoyed tours around the
city and coastline of Gothenburg and attended
the Regional Meeting at which May-Britt
mentioned she would be giving a presentation
at the seminar on ‘Women Strength in the
Police’. Donna attended the seminar (see page
13 for her report) and accompanied May-Britt
back to the UK where she stayed with 11
Region members. During her short stay, the
Chair of Sussex branch, David Stamp, and his
wife Caryl, arranged a day out for May-Britt in
Brighton as well as exploring the beautiful
South East Coast.
We look forward to many more visits between
our two Regions and working towards a long
lasting relationship that is beneficial to our
members.
Phillip Powell, Chair 11 Region IPA
Advice on setting up
a twinning arrangement
Taken from the 2011 survey
□ Establish a good relationship with intended
twinning Branch first
□ Set out clearly the defined advantages of
the twinning
□ Ensure there is sufficient interest by
members in the agreement
□ Ensure the twinning is viable in terms of
visits – financially and logistically
□ Make a visit to the twin location
□ Find out what the twin hopes for
□ Build on personal contacts to identify
potential twins
□ Identify twins that have some attraction/
reason for visit
□ Look for a Region/Branch/interest group
with common interests
□ Get an IPA member on the committee of
the local twinning group
□ Attempt to home host as many members of
the twinned branch as possible
□ Plan and arrange hosts as early as possible
□ Lose your inhibitions and have fun
□ Be flexible and prepared to do
the unexpected
□ Don’t worry about language barriers
□ Be considerate of diversity and
cultural differences
□ Give a gift
Phillip Powell, 11 Region Chair, explains how the twinning
between 11 Region and 3 Region Gothenburg has proved
to be a successful initiative and has cemented firm
friendships.
At Guildford Cathedral Phillip, Vivienne
and May-Britt Rinaldo, June 2010
Swedish members visiting Mounted Police
Branch, Imber Court, October 2009
Twinning is a
Winning Combination