The outgoing President of the Disabled Police Association has been honoured on his retirement with the award of the Queen’s Police Medal, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on the 3^rd March.

Superintendent Simon Nelson first joined Sussex Police in December 1993. In 2017 he was appointed to the DPA Executive Committee as Vice-Chair, and took over the role of President from Dr Robert Gurney in 2020.

In 2018, Simon published a candid and inspiring blog on his journey as a cancer survivor.

Inspector Tracy Betts, DPA Interim President, commented: “My DPA colleagues and I are delighted that Simon’s long service and tireless work in promoting disability in policing have been recognised. We wish Simon a long and happy retirement.”

Simon continues his work in support of diversity at the College of Policing, where he joins this month as a Senior Advisor to the Diversity & Inclusion Team. ∎

To celebrate our 10th Anniversary this year, the Disabled Police Association, in conjunction with the NPCC will be holding our Disability in Policing National Conference in Coventry on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th September 2022.

Guest speakers include Rosie Cooper MP, Rhian Davies from Disability Wales, Dame Lynne Owens (ex Head of the NCA), Alexis Poole (NPCC Lead for Neurodiversity) and our very own President, Simon Nelson, as well others with a personal knowledge of different conditions.

The theme ‘Conversations with Confidence’ supports our ongoing work with police forces and stakeholders to ensure the fair treatment and inclusion for disabled, injured officers and staff who have long-term conditions. Our Association works particularly hard to ensure that it is the ability of disabled officers and staff which is recognised, rather than perceived limitations, supporting confidence to talk about disability without fear of saying the wrong thing.

The event aims to provide support and advice to Forces on how networks can assist, showcase good practice in relation to supporting officers and staff with disabilities, and explore the barriers in relation to self-declaration and intersectionality. Our committee members will also be on hand to take part in Q&A’s and drop-in sessions.

The conference is open to all police officers, staff, volunteers and CJS staff. To book a place, visit the website dipconference.uk, contact your Force’s Disability Support Network, or contact us directly (using the General option and quoting your work email address). ∎

In what is believed to be the first case of its kind, an employment tribunal has ruled that long COVID (also known as post-COVID syndrome) meets the criteria for a disability

In a landmark ruling, a caretaker working for a charity successfully proved that coronavirus left him with “substantial and long-term” side effects affecting his ability to work.

Terence Burke first contracted COVID-19 in November 2020 and, despite initially having mild symptoms, lost the ability to undertake even simple household tasks and maintain concentration. Mr Burke successfully fought a disability discrimination case against his former employer, following his dismissal after being too exhausted to return to work for nine months.

Tribunal Judge James Young found that the condition substantially impacted on Mr Burke’s daily life, and commented: “I consider that the relevant tests are met to meet the definition of disability.”

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics estimates that two million people in the UK live with long COVID.

Links for further reading:

• News article by HR Magazine
• NHS guidance on the long-term effects of coronavirus