Conference could become bluelight hub

The dwindling number of police fleet managers looks set to change the NAPFM Conference and Exhibition for good.

Chairman Richard Flint told Fleet News that, following an executive committee meeting at the beginning of this year’s event, a new format is on the cards.
He explained: “Over the past 12 months we’ve lost 10 fleet managers and a lot of them are not being replaced because of amalgamations and restructurings.

“That leaves us in a precarious position in terms of how do we support what we’re doing
now considering what the size of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers could be in the future.”

The fact is fewer police fleet managers make the event unsustainable in its current format. But Flint believes involving colleagues from ambulance and fire services this year in creating ‘The Blue Light Exhibition’ could pave the way for greater integration.
He said: “We’ve talked to both the fire and ambulance and they’re really interested in joining us here.”

Some shared seminars, while protecting core conference activities to individual associations, would be the way forward, according to Flint, while there is room to grow the event further at its new home at Peterborough Showground.