PLANS to move towards competence-based pay for police officers could be problematic, and the new system could prove divisive, South Yorkshire Police Federation has warned.<\/p>\n
The Home Office has announced its wish to end the link between pay and time served and instead focus on professional development.<\/p>\n
Under the plans, a \u201cpay progression standard\u201d, due to be introduced by March next year, will see pay rises awarded when a Professional Development Review (PDR) has been completed.<\/p>\n
The matter has been sent to the Police Remuneration Review Body.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent, Federation Chair, said he was concerned that officers would lose out financially when training opportunities fail to arise.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI would like to think in any kind of pay recognition, every officer in pretty much most departments in the force, would qualify one way or another for some kind of advanced remuneration, whether that be because they\u2019re carrying a weapon or because they\u2019re CID, or they\u2019re a family liaison officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the general idea of this is to uplift everybody then great. But what I\u2019m really concerned about is that it will become divisive. I think there has to be a recognition that officers gain experience and are going to be paid more – so therefore time served is still going to be a factor.\u201d<\/p>\n
He used the example of an officer spending 30 years as a PC – and argued that the skills, knowledge and experience they would gain over a career should deserve recognition in pay.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cA combined system would be better. Otherwise, if you\u2019re going to get an extra grand a year because you\u2019ve got an advanced ticket, you\u2019re going to get an extra grand a year because you\u2019ve got a method of entry course, then a sergeant can give his mate a method of entry course and the rest of the team are only human and thinking, \u2018I want some of that\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will cause fairness issues I fear – it is an absolute minefield. So, while I welcome it as an overall principle, it has to be mixed and it has to recognise the multitude of roles within policing.\u201d<\/p>\n