Need for industrial rights would be ‘sad day’ for policing

POLICE officers having access to industrial rights would be a “sad day” – but it would become a much needed option should the Government introduce compulsory severance for cops.

Home Secretary Theresa May told the Superintendents’ Association Annual Conference this month that compulsory severance for police officers “remains on the table”.

Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said the prospect of police officer redundancy “was always going to come back if a Tory government came into power” at the 2015 election.

He added: “Home Secretary Theresa May begrudgingly accepted the Police Arbitration Tribunal decision on compulsory severance before the election, and I think she signed it off with the words ‘for now’.”

Mr Bowles said the Government had just released the results of the consultation on public pay-offs.

He added: “Well you can’t just make people redundant voluntarily or not voluntarily, and not pay them what they’re worth. One arm of the Government needs to speak to the other half and say, ‘what on earth’s going on?’ This Government’s just totally disjointed.

If the Government do make police officer redundant, will British Bobbies want to seek industrial rights?

“Absolutely,” added Mr Bowles. “We are, at the moment, an independent office of the Crown. We’re all constables – if they want to make us employees then give us the full employment rights that any other employee enjoys.

“This would be a sad day. We didn’t join this job to become rich, or to withdraw our labour, we came to help. But we want to be treated fairly. And so far we’re not being treated fairly at all.”