Redundancy: “The grey cloud hanging over policing”

HOME Secretary Theresa May “is not for budging on compulsory severance”, Police Federation chairman across England and Wales have warned.

The ability for chief constables to forcibly make police officers redundant – a recommendation in the Winsor report 2 currently being discussed by the Police Negotiating Board – has caused concern among cops across the country.

Officers were hoping that Home Secretary Theresa May would use her speech to the annual Police Federation of England and Wales conference last week to put to bed plans for compulsory severance.

But she declined.

“There isn’t a case to bring in redundancy for police officers,” said Simon Roberts, chairman of Cheshire Police Federation. “It feels like it is being used as almost punishment to hold over us. The Home Secretary had the opportunity to put the matter to bed in her speech but she did not.

“It is the grey cloud hanging over our organisation.”

Recommendation 46 of the Winsor 2 review into police officer pay and conditions stated that “The Police Regulations 2003 should be amended to create a system of compulsory severance for police officers with less than full pensionable service.”

During the conference in Bournemouth, Mrs May was urged by Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, to “take compulsory severance off the negotiating table” or at least delay the decision until there can be “a strong, proven case for its necessity”.

“The power for chiefs to sack officers undermines the very foundation of policing, namely the Office of Constable,” said Mr Williams.

“The ability of officers to make independent, impartial and accountable decisions, free from political influence or management pressure is fundamental, and to change the face of British policing forever is not something that should be done away with at the stroke of a pen.”

However, the Home Secretary would not make her views known on the issue. “I recognise the concern about compulsory severance. It is in negotiations and it is right to leave it there,” Mrs May said. “I recognise that there is strong concern about this issue and that has been made clear to me through the Federation and at this conference.”

Discussions around recommendation 46 are due to conclude at the Police Negotiating Board in July after the Police Arbitration Tribunal suggested the proposal should be deferred for further deliberations.

Rachel Baines, chairman of Lancashire Police Federation, said it appears “the lady is not for budging on compulsory severance” after Mrs May’s address to the conference.

She said the Home Secretary should remember “the dangers of the job we do” when deciding whether to grant chief constables the power to make police officers redundant.

Ms Baines said: “She made reference to the fact that other public sector workers don’t have the right to strike but they are still subject to compulsory severance so it looks like she has already thought about that one.

“But she didn’t really make the link between that and the dangers of the job we do. People will find that quite disappointing. There was a hope from officers today that she would give us a concession on that. But that was not to be the case.”

Ian Hanson, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: “For the era of confrontation between the government and the police service to be put to bed, the spectre of compulsory severance for police officers needs dealing with.”