Police officers choose to take voluntary redundancy

THE FIRST group of officers in the country to have their applications for voluntary severance approved will leave the police service within the next three months.

The 24 officers from Staffordshire Police will leave with a redundancy package of one month’s pay for every year of service, up to a maximum of 21 months. A further 16 officers are said to be waiting to find out if their applications will be accepted.

The Home Office approved the voluntary exit scheme for officers for the first time in January. Forces have the option to decide whether they adopt the scheme, with Staffordshire reportedly the first to do so in May.

Andy Adams, chairman of Staffordshire Police Federation, said it was “rather strange” that no other forces had so far taken it up.

“I think all forces should look at the scheme,” he said. “For the sake of our members we are pleased to support it. It gives officers a choice about whether or not they want to go.”

Applicants in Staffordshire included male and female officers with both long and short services across numerous areas of the force, predominantly constables and sergeants but also inspectors and one superintendent.

Mr Adams said voluntary severance was a much better option than the “blunt instrument” of A19, which allows for the compulsory retirement of officers with 30 years’ service, or the prospect of compulsory severance for any officer currently under negotiation at the Police Negotiating Board.

“I cannot see why compulsory severance should even be considered when there is the option for voluntary severance,” he said. “It is an ideal way of allowing officers to have a choice. Everybody is happy that they have been accepted.”

In a statement, Staffordshire Police Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, who is also national policing lead on workforce development, said the scheme was devised after “extensive consultation”.

He added: “The scheme aims to give greater flexibility and choice to officers who are considering leaving the service to pursue a new career. It means that officers with less than 30 years’ service can apply to leave the force early.

“The 2013 scheme will run until the end of this month and any further applications will be assessed at this time. We will then reopen applications again for one month in March 2014 and annually thereafter.”