Home Secretary rubber-stamps £4k bonus plan

HOME Secretary Sajid Javid is backing proposals to reward officers filling hard to fill roles with a £4,000 bonus payment.

The National Police Chiefs Council has submitted the proposals to try and redress officer recruitment and retention issues.

The Minister used his address at this year’s Superintendents Association Conference in Leicestershire to lend his support to the plans.

He told delegates: “The National Police Chiefs Council has submitted proposals which would allow chief constables to give a discretionary bonus payment of up to £4,000 a year for officers who take on those hard to fill roles and superintendents with especially challenging roles.

“And today I can announce that I offer my full support to these proposals and that I intend to legislate so these bonuses can be given out.

“I can also confirm that chief constables will be able to authorise these payments to be backdated to 1 September 2017.”

Superintendents, he said, have been telling him that they and their forces are stretched set against a rise in violent and cybercrime.

“Part of that is about resources,” he said.

“That’s why we’re now investing over £1 billion more in policing than we did three years ago, including more money raised through council tax and £21 million extra to help law enforcement agencies to help fight online child sexual exploitation.

“£50 million is being invested over the next year to boost cyber capabilities within law enforcement at a national, regional and local level.

“We’re also making £40 million available over the next two years to help support the new Serious Violence Strategy,” he told Conference.

He recognises, he said, that it’s not just funding the service needs to tackle crime

“It’s vital that you get the training you’ve asked for and I know those of you who work in Public Protection Units sometimes feel like you’re thrown in at the deep end without having that necessary training and support.

“The shocking stat is that 87% of those leading units to protect children receive no training or development for the role.

“This needs to change, so I fully support the work the College of Policing is doing to develop a public protection learning programme.

“And my department continues to assist the College to develop the Licence to Practise Scheme for people who are working in these high-risk areas.

“This should mean that no one is put in a position where they’re being asked to take on vital public protection roles without adequate preparation,” he said.

Among other promises, the Minister said he was consulting on extending stop and search powers and that he wanted Superintendents to feel properly ‘rewarded’ for the work they do.

“You also need to feel your welfare is being taken seriously,” he said.

“I was disgusted by the recent McDonald’s attack (where Met Officers were kicked and attacked from behind while trying to make an arrest) and that’s why I supported the Assaults on Emergency Workers Bill.

“I’ve also written to police chiefs across the country to stress the importance of Tasers and Spit and Bite Guards.

“We’ve already pledged £7.5 million for a new national police welfare service and I’m pleased to announce that £400,000 of this money will be used to support the proposal by Chief Constable Andy Rhodes and the College of Policing, to get a new wellbeing outreach prevention service on the road next month (October).

“I want you to know I am listening to you,” he added.