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Friday 04th July 2008

Police Reform


Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales: “We believe it is vital if reform is to take place that it is carried out on a basis of service effectiveness not just financial efficiency. The public must be left with an improved, more effective force that is able to provide a better service”.  
 

Quotes on police reform:


 

Amalgamations


(There is a full ‘Amalgamation Where We Stand’ which more comprehensively conveys Federation thoughts and responses).
 
“The Police Federation of England and Wales accepts the police service cannot stand still and that change is necessary. If we were to draw a blueprint for police forces in 2006 it would not be in the current 43 force mould. But this is the model which currently exists and it is therefore imperative that any restructuring or amalgamation of forces continues to deliver the public a policing model fit for the demands of policing in 2006 and beyond.”  
 

Neighbourhood Policing

 
“Community policing, today, is a political rarity: it is something supported by all three main parties, backed by both tabloids and broadsheets and, most important of all, demanded by the general public. The police have always thrived, and will always thrive, on intelligence information – it’s the DNA of good policing. Today, with the omnipresent threat of terrorism, and the introduction of penalties such ASBOs, the police need public information more than ever before”.  
 

SOCA


 “The Federation does not, and never will, approve of non-sworn personnel becoming ‘temporary’ police officers by being awarded ad-hoc powers for operational purposes. There is a huge difference between an officer of the Crown who bears personal responsibility to the law, and a civilian employee. The blurring of these boundaries sets a dangerous precedent for the future and will further erode the status of police officers.”  
 
 

The Police Federation of England and Wales believe: 
 

  • The status of Constable is sacrosanct

 

  • Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of effective policing and should be fully integrated with cross-border, national & international policing.

 

  • Entry to the service should be at Constable level for all sworn officers.

 

  • A grounding in policing at Constable level is imperative to any rank and enables officers to specialise and move between specialisms

 

  • PNB should be retained as the alternatives would appear to deliver less

 

  • CSOs require a clearly defined role

 

  • Pay (agreed JCC planning meeting June 05): Retain Indexation
    Achieve Shorter Pay Scales
    Retain Overtime
    Re-define and redistribute SPPs
    Retain CRTPs
    Retain Separate Pay Scales for each rank
    No support for harmonisation of pay and conditions
     

 

Background thoughts:


 There is nothing new to Police Reform. The police service has been evolving from the day it was founded in its modern form over 150 years ago. Through policing by consent we continually review our response to crime and disorder and always need to work with partners and other agencies. 
 
We have instigated a number of campaigns for the modernisation of the police service and contributed to plans for force amalgamations, integrated technology, the improvement of professional skills through training, the reduction of bureaucracy and re-balancing the criminal justice system. It is essential; however, that change is undertaken for a reason, and not for the sake of change alone.
 
We worry that the haste with which the government often approach reform particularly force amalgamations mean that the consultation periods and feedback, important for any substantive and professional reforms, are often overlooked. Any changes must be substantive and not merely cosmetic.
 
Care should be taken not to build up expectations, over-promise and then under-deliver. Ultimately the community will judge the government and police service on their own experience. Policing must be geared towards what we do and how we do it – not a catalogue of targets and indicators. 
 

Who should be involved in the process of reform?


 

  • Home Office 

 

  • The public and local community groups 

 

  • Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) 

 

  • Association of Police Authorities (APA) 

 

  • Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) 

 

  • Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and its equality adviser

 

  • Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales (PSAEW)

 

  • Police Federation 

 

  • UNISON who represent Police staff nationally

 

  • Crime Reduction & Community Safety Group (CRCSG) 


For the latest on the Government’s programme of police related reforms visit:
 
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/background.html/?version=1 

 




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