Federation response to CBI report - A Frontline Force: Proposals for More Effective Policing
31 March 2010
Responding to the publication of the CBI Report, A Frontline Force: Proposals for more effective policing, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:
“This CBI report is a double edged sword. On the one hand it contains many sensible recommendations for improving efficiency that we have been calling for, such as improved collaboration, joint procurement and rationalising backroom functions. Yet on the other hand it contains several ill-informed suggestions focussed purely on cost-cutting, namely, hiving off parts of the service for the benefit of private companies that the CBI represents and not for the greater good of the public.
“The CBI is right to identify that there are many services that can be shared between forces; some time ago we raised concern that there are currently 43 different procurement processes for purchasing uniforms or police vehicles. That makes no sense at all; we would therefore welcome a national procurement strategy. Likewise, if there are some backroom functions that do not need police officers, we would encourage chief officers to put more police officers back on the street.
“However, where this biased report falls down, is its ethos that policing can be treated as a business. Policing is a public service; and unlike private business we cannot pick and choose what to do. We exist to serve the public, not shareholders. The organisations the CBI represents have the luxury of deciding something is not cost effective and therefore they are not going to do it anymore. The police service is there to serve all communities and meet an increasing range of demands. We cannot walk away if protecting the public becomes too expensive.
“As for performance related pay - this may suit the private sector, but how do you determine the pay for a neighbourhood team police officer whose mere presence deters an un-recordable number of crimes? Is the CBI suggesting we reintroduce more targets and officers will then be judged by how many arrests they make, or how many victims they see, irrespective of the quality of service given? The current pay structure is designed to take account of the variety of tasks that multi-skilled police officers undertake, whether policing inner cities or rural areas.
“I do wonder whether the CBI may better spend its time getting its own house in order before looking to the police. What next? The Association of Chief Police Officers drafting proposals for more effective banking?”
ENDS
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