COMPULSORY severance for police officers \u201cremains on the table\u201d for the Government, the Home Secretary has said.<\/p>\n
Theresa May said she was not currently in discussion with chiefs about police officers\u2019 redundancy recently but she refused to rule out using it in the future.<\/p>\n
She was speaking at the Superintendents\u2019 Association of England and Wales Annual Conference.\u202f\u00a0<\/span> In February 2014, Theresa May (pictured) said she had \u201cdecided to accept the Tribunal\u2019s recommendation not to implement measures to introduce compulsory severance at this time\u201d.<\/p>\n However in a warning to police officers, she added: \u201cThis remains a reform I believe government and the police should continue to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n Also at the conference on Wednesday 9 September, the Home Secretary ruled out police force mergers. \u201cYou only have to look north of the border to see that such a restructure is not needed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is still no business case for Police Scotland and it has been suggested it will take 15 years to make the expected savings.<\/p>\n \u201cThe evidence is clear, it does not generate savings and can cause unnecessary complexity and local accountability can be lost.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs May also spoke out on stop and search. \u201cI am very clear that stop and search is an extremely important tool for the police but you must be using it properly and effectively,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is frustrating that some officers now feel they can\u2019t use it and there is maybe a job to be done about saying to specific officers that can still be used, as long as it is done legally and effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking on impending cuts, Mrs May said: \u201cBudgets will fall further and savings will have to be made in policing\u2026 this is the reality.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must have a grown up frank conversation about what is necessary and possible. There will be a number of difficult choices that lie ahead but it can be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIn December 2013, the Police Arbitration Tribunal decided that introducing officer redundancy to the service would be a \u201cmomentous change\u201d and that the case for bringing it into the service was not \u201ccompelling\u201d.<\/p>\n