Neil Wilby Media

A deprived Northern town that routinely hits the headlines for all the wrong reasons is advertising the fact that at least one group of its workers wears personal protective equipment (PPE) to go about their daily business, writes Neil Wilby.

The decision for council employees who work outside to wear stab vests would, normally, depend on the specific circumstances and the nature of their work. In certain situations, where there may be a higher risk of violence or personal safety concerns, it is not uncommon for workers in other public-facing deployments and in other areas, including council employees, to be provided with PPE, such as stab vests. What is unusual is a local authority taking the decision to make that fact widely known in a public relations photoshoot that would, otherwise, be regarded by the vast majority in Oldham as rather pointless.

Some examples of council employees who may require stab vests for their safety include enforcement officers, park wardens, or those who work in areas with a history of violent incidents or where they may encounter aggressive individuals. The purpose of providing stab vests is to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of the employees while they carry out their duties. Ambulance drivers, paramedics, firemen and sports stadium stewards are notable exceptions amongst those who do not wear stab vests. For now, at least.

However, it is important to note that not all council employees working outside wear stab vests as a standard practice. The decision to provide such protective equipment would be based on a risk assessment conducted by the local council or relevant authorities to determine the appropriate measures for employee safety.

Like many other towns and cities in the North West, Oldham, may have experienced incidents of violence or aggression towards its council employees at certain times. But a search for news articles or other more formal reports has, so far, drawn a blank.

The Oldham Council Leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, pictured above front centre, not wearing a stab vest, has been approached for comment. and access to the most relevant and current information regarding any incidents that have occurred in the area – and the risk assessments that led to the decision to the issue of PPE to the fly-tipping enforcement team.

Cabinet Member and Oldham Labour Party rising star, Cllr Chris Goodwin (Chadderton South), behind and to the left of Cllr Shah, was also bare chested, so to speak.

The photoshoot took place in Cllr Shah’s home ward of St Mary’s, where she represents her constituents in an area where she grew up and still lives with her family. It was said to be in support of the ‘Don’t Trash Oldham’ campaign which the Council Leader personally instigated during her first term in the top job in 2021. She was re-elected as Leader last month.

Oldham is generally considered to be a deprived town in the North of England. It has faced various socio-economic challenges over the past decades and has classified as one of the most deprived areas in the country. Multiple factors contribute to this classification, including high levels of poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. However, it’s important to note that deprivation levels can vary within different areas of the town, St Mary’s traditionally being one of the worst. The Labour administration, now in its twelfth consecutive year of control of the Council, claims that efforts are being made to address these issues and improve the overall quality of life in Oldham.

Those efforts have to be set against the astounding figures of 27,760 children living in poverty in Oldham in 2022, according to a recent report by the End Child Poverty Campaign.

This is just under half of Oldham’s children, while the town has the sixth highest child poverty level of all UK local authorities. Cllr Shah and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, Debbie Abrahams have both recently called for immediate Government action to tackle ‘shocking’ levels of child poverty in the town whilst a vast army of staff at the Civic Centre earn over £50,000 according to the Council’s own website (read here).

UPDATE: Although the email requesting comment, and more information, was acknowledged by the Council Leader’s office no substantive response has since been provided on what are seriously important issues. Perhaps she prefers the calmer waters of the Oldham Chronicle and Oldham Times whom, routinely, seem awash with commentary from Cllr Shah?

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Page last updated: Monday 26th June, 2023 at 1915 hours

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Picture credit: Oldham Council

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