THE end of the UK wide Police Negotiating Board is \u201cabhorrent\u201d and its demise \u201cdoes a fundamental disservice to the fine men and women of the police service in England and Wales\u201d, Scottish politicians have been told.<\/p>\n
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, (pictured) told MSPs the PNB had become a \u201cbroken system in recent years dominated effectively by the Home Office, there for no other purpose but to make sure the Government\u2019s agenda is not breached.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said his organisation \u201cwelcomed\u201d the creation of the new Scottish Police Negotiating Board but said it would be a \u201cmassive loss of opportunity\u201d if Scotland simply tries to replicate that \u201cbroken\u201d UK PNB model in Scotland.<\/p>\n
Following a recommendation in the Winsor pay reviews, south of the border \u2013 much to the disappointment of the Police Federation of England and Wales \u2013 a Pay Review Body is replacing the Police Negotiating Board in the latter half of next year. A spokesman for the Fed stated: \u201cThe lack of an ability to negotiate is a concern and there will be no ability to resist the Pay Review Body\u2019s recommendation.\u201d<\/p>\n
However north of the border, as part of the Criminal Justice Bill \u2013 currently going through the Scottish Parliament \u2013 a Scottish Police Negotiating Board will be created.<\/p>\n
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill promised in April at the Scottish Police Federation conference that, following any Scottish PNB disputes \u2013 when both Staff and Official side of the PNB fail to agree on a matter \u2013 any arbitration on pay would be \u201clegally binding on the government I serve and any future administrations\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking to MSPs on 1 October, Mr Steele said the Scottish Police Federation consider it \u201cmanifestly unfair\u201d that current arbitration is only binding on the Staff Side.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThere is an indication from the cabinet secretary as least as far as pay is concerned that he would be willing to have pay matters binding.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the [current] legislation is structured in such a way that whilst a cabinet secretary can bind himself \u2013 or a future herself \u2013 they do not necessarily bind Parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the binding of an individual \u2013 while you might have confidence in that individual and their ability to perform the job \u2013 is not the same as having binding arbitration in its own right and that is something that would need to be addressed during the main provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n
In England and Wales \u2013 and with the current PNB \u2013 arbiters can make a decision on police pay disputes but the Home Secretary retains the final decision on whether accept their proposals. In 2007, then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith rejected a decision on a pay rise for officers, leaving front line officers outraged.<\/p>\n
Scottish officers however, were given their 2007 pay rise in full.<\/p>\n
Also speaking to MSPs on 1 October, John Gillies, director of Human Resources for Police Scotland, said: \u201cWe welcome the creation of the PNB for Police Scotland. In general terms we are very supportive of what is being proposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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