SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation says any plans for a \u201cfundamental restructure” of the force are \u201ca complete surprise\u201d to everyone in South Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
Neil Bowles, Federation Chairman (pictured) said this news \u2013 mentioned by new Home Secretary in Parliament – was also\u00a0a surprise to the current interim Chief Constable, Dave Jones, the new Chief Constable, Steve Watson, the PCC, Dr Alan Billings and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think perhaps she has been poorly briefed on our current circumstances,\u201d said Mr Bowles.<\/p>\n
The Home Office says the “fundamental restructure” of South Yorkshire Police hinted by the Home Secretary amounts to measures already announced.<\/p>\n
In a commons debate Amber\u00a0Rudd was asked if she would look again at the future of the force\u2019s management and “not shy away from any fundamental reorganisation”.<\/p>\n
She replied: “My right honourable friend will not be surprised to hear that we are doing exactly that.”<\/p>\n
Responding to requests from PoliceOracle.com for clarity on what such a “fundamental reorganisation” would mean, the Home Office pointed to existing work by the College of Policing on a peer review report, and HMIC on its PEEL inspection regime as explanations of this.<\/p>\n
Mr Bowles added: \u201cOur members and the local Superintendents\u2019 Association have been saying for some time that the latest Policing Model will not work and it has not worked.<\/p>\n
That the salami style cuts of police officers and staff is wrong and that we need to transform our services.<\/p>\n
\u201cDave Jones called for a Peer Review of the force and it listened and reported last month. It laid out some sensible recommendations for the short and medium term. We now need whichever CC we have to action them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had a complete overhaul of senior officers in the last two years. HMIC are nearly continuously inspecting all forces \u2013 there are others in a worse place than us! However, national and locally, the Federation supports full blown amalgamations whereas this Government does not.\u201d<\/p>\n