Did Tom Winsor influence chiefs on redundancy decision?

CHIEF police officers have been accused of betraying front line cops by giving their full backing to compulsory severance – after receiving a behind doors briefing from HM chief inspector of constabulary Tom Winsor.

It has been claimed that at a meeting of its Chief Constables’ Council – attended by all the country’s chiefs and Mr Winsor (pictured) – ACPO was considering withdrawing its support for police redundancy. But that chiefs changed their mind.

It is alleged that the gathering of chiefs – whose views feed into the Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board – changed their mind after hearing from Mr Winsor, the man who recommended the introduction of redundancy in his second police pay and conditions report in early 2012.

A statement from Merseyside Police Federation said chief officers had stabbed rank and file cops in the back.

It stated: “Prior to the [PNB] meeting taking place our leaders were addressed by Tom Winsor who managed to convince ACPO that if they backtracked on their original recommendation they would look foolish in the eyes of the Home Office.
“So Mr Winsor convinced our “strategic thinkers” to change their minds, in order to save face with the Government, and complete a U-turn.”

The Merseyside Police Federation described it as “betrayal by our trusted leaders who we look to protect us and lead us in the best interests of policing.”

Avon and Somerset Police Federation’s official Twitter feed also mentioned the meeting between chiefs and Mr Winsor. It stated: “Heard that Chiefs [at] their recent meeting were leaning towards changing their stance on compulsory severance – Winsor apparently left them in no doubt there should be no change as it was Government Policy and they would look weak”.

An ACPO spokeswoman said “chiefs recognised the strength of feeling among police officers about compulsory severance” and that it “would be a matter of extreme last resort.”

She confirmed that Mr Winsor did speak to chiefs at the Chief Constables’ Council on July 17 “on a range of policing issues.”

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

On July 24, a week after the Winsor/ACPO summit, the Police Negotiating Board registered a “failure to agree” over compulsory severance. The controversial issue will now go to the Police Arbitration Tribunal later this year – likely to be in the Autumn. Home Secretary Theresa May will then have the final decision.

Chief Constables’ Council is “the senior operational decision-making body” for ACPO. It brings together chief constables of police forces in the United Kingdom, meets around six times a year and is chaired by ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde.

The ACPO spokeswoman added: “Tom Winsor’s views on compulsory redundancy are well known and were laid out in his report. It was not surprising that he should maintain that his recommendation should be implemented.

“The overriding issue for chiefs was that beyond 2016 there are likely to be further significant funding cuts and therefore, very reluctantly, forces in the future would need to have this means of reducing expenditure at their disposal.”

Speaking last month Mr Winsor said having compulsory severance in the Police Service would not be “inconsistent” with the office of constable. Speaking after delivering the Police Foundation’s John Harris Memorial Lecture in London he said the power should be “used sparingly.”

A spokesman for HMIC said: “Mr Winsor accepted an invitation from ACPO to attend the Chiefs’ Council on 17 July. Any questions regarding ACPO’s decisions to support or otherwise elements of police reform are for ACPO to answer.”