Annual Reports 2010
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Annual Reports 2010 Joint Central Committee Constables’ Central Committee Sergeants’ Central Committee Inspectors’ Central Committee Police Police Federation Annual Reports 2010 of England and Wales Typeset and printed by The Police Federation of England and Wales www.polfed.org 2010 Executive Summary entitled ‘Policing for the People’, so we were aware that in his new role he was likely to advocate considerable change to the service. The Police Federation had a good presence at each of the autumn political party conferences. With a new government in place this was an important time to ensure that the voice of the rank and file was heard. For the first time we co-hosted a fringe meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Paul McKeever Ian Rennie Police Superintendents’ Association of Chairman General Secretary England and Wales. This maximised attendance by politicians and other The year proved to be another challenging and stakeholders and ensured that the lively debate unsettling one for the police service, dealing was not just restricted to comments from the with the inevitable political electioneering pre- floor but also some disagreement on police May and then the uncertainty post-General reform by the panel themselves. Entitled ‘The Election as to what change the new Coalition Policing Fringe’, the meetings allowed the government would seek to introduce in Federation to put on the political agenda key policing. issues and concerns about terms and Whilst 2009 sowed the seeds for financial conditions, police pensions and the threat of a restraint and cutbacks, 2010 saw a new reduction in police officer numbers. government make clear that its priority would With devolution of policing on the political be dealing with the country’s huge financial agenda, the Police Federation also had a deficit and that all workers would have to presence at each of the Welsh Spring Party share the pain. To that end, the Federation conferences where delegates were prompted to knew that difficult months lay ahead. think about which aspects of policing they were prepared to sacrifice in a climate of A year in Parliament funding cuts. Our national Chairman As we entered 2010 the only political certainty addressed the Plaid Cymru conference in was that there would be a General Election autumn and a delegation from the national before the end of June. and regional Federation also met with the First At the start of the year the three main political Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones, to discuss parties published their manifestos. Whilst the impact of cuts in Wales. Labour promised to maintain police numbers Ahead of the publication of the government’s and the Liberal Democrats pledged to put an Comprehensive Spending Review we held a extra 3,000 police officers on the beat, the media conference in which we made clear that Conservatives were silent on funding issues financial cuts to policing and a reduction in relating to law and order. police officer numbers would result in With no party winning outright it was one ‘Christmas for criminals’, a catch-phrase that week after the General Election on 6th May captured press attention and caused some that the coalition government was formed. discomfort for the government. Just days before the Police Federation annual On 20th October the Chancellor of the conference in May, it was announced that the Exchequer, George Osborne, published the new Home Secretary was Theresa May with Comprehensive Spending Review which Nick Herbert as the Police Minister. Whilst outlined planned spending for the coming Mrs May was less familiar to the Police four years. Whilst we knew tough decisions Federation, Mr Herbert was very well known, would be taken by government we were having previously been the Shadow Minister shocked and extremely disappointed that for Police Reform and having attended past policing would see a drastic reduction of 20 Federation conferences. Whilst he was Shadow percent funding over the coming four years; Minister, Mr Herbert had been the architect of heavily weighted in years one and two. This, the Conservative blueprint for police reform after the HMIC had warned that any financial The Police Federation of England and Wales Annual Report 2010 Joint Central Committee page 1 2010 Executive Review cut in excess of 12 percent would result in a Negotiating Board, the Federation were detrimental public service. We made clear to involved in the formulation and submission of government that this would jeopardise public written evidence to the Independent Public safety and called upon them to urgently Service Pensions Commission in December. reconsider. In October the government appointed ex-rail In December the government published the regulator, Tom Winsor, to undertake the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill independent review of police officer and police which contained proposals for the staff terms and conditions of service. He is introduction of directly elected Police and supported by former West Midlands Chief Crime Commissioners. In a submission to the Constable Sir Edward Crew and economist Home Office, the Federation made clear that Professor Richard Disney. The Federation met there was still insufficient detail as to how this with Tom Winsor within days of his system would operate and our concern that appointment and, working to an exceptionally operational policing must not be tight consultation period, sent a thorough and compromised and must remain politically well-evidenced written submission. In independent. Whilst it is right that the police December all submissions were published service is held to account, it is not a matter for which allowed the Federation to submit a the Federation to comment on how this supplementary paper specifically addressing should be achieved; that is a matter for issues raised in the original submissions by government. ACPO and the APA. Both submissions were published on the Police Federation website. Fighting for the best terms, conditions, pay and pensions for police The end of 2010 also saw several police forces This year saw significant steps taken by the institute Regulation A19 of the police pension new Coalition government which threaten the regulations, which allows chief officers to pay, pension and terms and conditions for forcibly retire police officers on the grounds of police officers. efficiency of the force. The issue was discussed at the July meeting of the Joint Central In view of the country’s fiscal problem, in the Committee and, whilst accepting that June emergency budget the government regulations allow it to be used in specific announced a two-year pay freeze for all circumstances, the Federation agreed that it workers in the public sector. The Federation would support any member who is made immediately sought assurances, and received subject to the improper or perverse application confirmation, that the third year of the three- of A19. year police pay settlement would be honoured in September 2010. Further detail on all the issues relating to In October the Independent Public Service police pay, pensions and terms and conditions Pensions Commission led by Lord Hutton can be found in the PAB/PNB section of this published its interim report. The report made annual report. clear that should the government wish to make short-term savings then raising contribution Facing danger rates would be the most effective way. The The year saw several high profile events that initial recommendations were not specific; attracted considerable media attention and put therefore it is difficult to know if there will be the dangers and stresses of policing directly implications for police pensions in the future. under the spotlight. Lord Hutton will produce a final report in In June, in Cumbria, Derek Bird shot and time for the Budget in 2011, which will look killed 12 people before killing himself. Then at longer-term structural reform of public in July, PC David Rathband was shot in the sector pensions. This may include whether or face and blinded by Raoul Moat. The year not it is appropriate for schemes to move from ended with demonstrations in London against a final salary basis to that of a career average. It the government’s plans for tuition fees and will also look at whether there needs to be resulted in public disorder and a fire changes to retirement ages within each extinguisher being thrown from the roof of a scheme. As part of the Staff Side of the Police building at police officers. The Police Federation of England and Wales Annual Report 2010 page 2 Joint Central Committee 2010 Executive Review This is the reality of policing. We have made Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the clear to government that, whatever changes Race Relations Act. The Coalition government they may consider for the service in 2011, they is still considering whether to implement a must never forget the dedication, bravery and number of the provisions. commitment of police officers across the The overarching principle of the Act is to country. make the law simpler and consistent across all the protected characteristics. There are now Deployment to Northern Ireland nine protected characteristics: age, disability, Towards the end of the year we were forced to gender reassignment, marriage and civil go public regarding the idea being considered partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, by ACPO that police officers from England religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. and Wales could be deployed to assist colleagues in the Police Service of Northern There have been major changes to the way the Ireland (PSNI). We expressed deep concern law operates in respect of direct that this was under consideration despite discrimination, harassment and liability. Of officers from England and Wales having particular interest to the Police Federation of inappropriate and insufficient equipment for England and Wales is the way the law has this duty, nor the necessary training needed to changed in respect of positive action.