Over 2,000 delegates are expected in Bournemouth next week to attend the 2009 Police Federation Annual Conference, which will mark the associations’ 90th anniversary, having formed in 1919. A regular event at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), the conference and exhibition will occupy all four halls at the venue for a week.
The event opens with a Policewomen’s Eve of Conference Meeting on the afternoon of Monday 11th May and Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Stephen Chappell will host a civic reception on Tuesday evening.
Tuesday morning will see three conferences run alongside each other for Sergeants, Inspectors and Constables in three of the venue’s halls, with an exhibition in the fourth. The Joint Central Conference which is aimed at the whole federation will start on Tuesday afternoon and run until the end of Thursday.
Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation said: “The BIC suits our requirements down to the ground. Our annual conference runs three separate conferences in tandem and there aren’t many venues that can cater for such large delegate numbers in each hall, as well as a large exhibition. And not in such a glorious destination either; one enjoyed by our delegates over the many years we have been holding our event at the BIC.”
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will take to the stage in the morning of Wednesday 13th May as a keynote speaker. Film producer and founder of the Police Memorial Trust, Michael Winner will be presented with the Federation Bowl on Thursday morning as recognition of his support of police officers’ who have died on duty. Tony Judge, former editor of the Police Magazine, will host a talk about the police riots of 1918/19 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Police Federation, followed by a talk on the future of policing, led by Vernon Coaker, Minister of State, and David Ruffley, Shadow Police Minister.
The Police Federation Annual Conference is back at the BIC in 2010 and the association has confirmed that they will be returning every year after that until 2013! Peter Gunn, Managing Director of the BIC and Pavilion said: “That such a valuable and longstanding client has chosen to host the annual conference, which marks their 90th anniversary, at the BIC in what is also our 25th year, makes 2009 even more special for us. This year alone the event will create an estimated £3.6m in economic benefit for the area and their long term future bookings show a strong commitment to the town, which is vital in these uncertain times.”
The exhibition in the Purbeck Hall will run from Tuesday to Thursday and will feature over 40 exhibitors, including BMW UK Forces who will have a vehicle display.
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