Member News
By Tony Grew - 1st April 2011
Rank and file police officers have expressed "grave concern and consternation" at a new report into their renumeration and conditions.
The Police Federation of England and Wales has said the Winsor report's recommendations would mean some officers have their pay cut by up to £4,000.
In a written ministerial statement home secretary Theresa May has welcomed Winsor's recommendations
"Tom Winsor was asked to look at how remuneration arrangements and conditions of service for police officers and staff can best support and enable the police service to serve the public and provide value for money for the public taxpayer," May said.
Winsor recommendations include:
* People should be paid for what they do, the skills they have and are applying in their work, and the weights of the jobs they do.
* People should be paid for how well they work.
* A single police service – distinctions in pay and other conditions of service between police officers and staff should be objectively justified.
* Arrangements should be simple to implement and administer.
* A phased introduction of reform.
May said the Winsor recommendations "provide a framework for fair and sustainable arrangements for remuneration and conditions of service" and will now go to the Police Negotiating Board and Police Advisory Board "as a matter of urgency".
Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said:
"Whilst these are merely proposals at this stage we remain extremely disappointed that Tom Winsor's report fails to demonstrate any evidence-based methodology or reasoning.
"Even more disappointing is that the home secretary is choosing to put forward a flawed report of personal views, not evidence, to the Police Negotiating Board.
"We expect the Police Negotiating Board will give each proposal the in-depth analysis and consideration it deserves before any decision on any of the proposals is made.
"To make any changes to police terms and conditions, the unique working arrangements and special relationship the police have in society must at all times be borne in mind.
"Whilst police officers understand that these are just proposals at this stage, they are putting their last ounce of faith in this government to honour the processes and procedures in place to protect their unique working status.
"It is therefore incumbent on the home secretary that she honours the decisions of the negotiating machinery.
"Many of the proposals put forward in the Winsor report cause grave concern and consternation amongst the rank and file, particularly as some officers would suffer a pay cut of up to £4,000.
"It is clear that police officers will be the biggest victims of the financial cuts in the public sector as this would be in addition to a two year pay freeze and possible increased pension costs."
He added:
"The 20 per cent budget cuts imposed by this government will not only see a reduction in the numbers of officers fighting crime but will also impact on the unique working arrangements of police officers which reflect the dangerous and often thankless job they do."
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