CHIEF constables and the police minister have refused to put together an action plan to improve \u201cplummeting\u201d police officer morale \u2013 despite being told to do so by a group of influential MPs.<\/p>\n
The Home Affairs Select Committee told Damian Green and ACPO in July last year to \u201cpublish a list of actions they intend to take to address the issue of police morale during the course of this year.\u201d\u00a0However neither have taken up this request.<\/p>\n
The demand \u2013 made by the Home Affairs Select Committee in a report on Leadership and standards in the police \u2013 was in response to the news that morale among British Bobbies had \u201csunk to its lowest ebb in recent memory\u201d.<\/p>\n
A Home Office response to the report stated acknowledged \u201cthat implementing Tom Winsor\u2019s [pay and conditions] recommendations means that the police are currently going through a period of significant change and that this is affecting police morale.\u201d<\/p>\n
However it added: \u201cThe Government does not agree with the Committee\u2019s recommendation that the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims [Damian Green] and the Chief Constable\u2019s Council should publish a list of the actions that they are going to take to address the issue of police morale over the course of a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government will continue to maintain strong relationships with police staff associations, and continue to listen to the concerns of officers and staff as the police workforce is modernised in line with Tom Winsor\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government will also continue to acknowledge the ongoing hard work of police officers and staff across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike Cunningham, ACPO\u2019s lead on workforce development and chief constable of Staffordshire Police said this week: \u201cThe welfare of their officers and staff is of utmost concern to chief constables and is regularly discussed at a national level and with staff associations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndividual chiefs hold the responsibility for leading their people and boosting their morale; this will be a key part of all chiefs\u2019 programmes to address changes to the service.\u201d<\/p>\n