'Plebgate' - The arguement continues

The issue of 'Plebgate' has raised its head again with the conclusion of the Investigation into the federation reps that met with Mr Andrew Mitchell MP at his constituency offices and the subsequent media interview.

The investigation was conducted by West Mercia Police under the supervision of the IPCC, however at the conclusion of the investigation the IPCC chair Deborah Glass decided to publish her own views about the investigation.

Below are links to the statement made by West Mercia Police , IPCC Chair and the federation.  Have a read and make your own minds up about the comments made.

This issue has become a political hot potato and is being used negatively by Politicians and the media to attack the police.

What these individuals are forgetting is that the vast majority of officers do an extraordinary job in protecting the public and this will be evident this weekend at the Police Bravery Awards.  Lets hope that this event gets just as much publicity as the 'Plebgate' affair.

http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/statement-from-warwickshire-west-mercia-and-west-midlands-police.html

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/ipcc-disagrees-findings-west-mercia-investigation-conduct-police-federation-representatives

http://www.polfed.org/newsroom/1655.aspx

Message from Editor - PS Mohammed Saleem

Before I start on my bit, can I remind you all that there are articles on the individual blogs which can be found on the links to the right of this page.

 

The PNB failed to reach agreement in relation to Compulsory Severance and Restricted Duties.  These matters will now be referred to the Police Arbitration Tribunal.  Agreement was reached on the other matters under consideration.  This was decided at the end of July and in case the information was missed by anyone I have included a breakdown of what was and was not agreed within the magazine.

Manchester Pride – the changing face of the community we police- by PCC Tony Lloyd

Manchester Pride – now one of the cornerstones of the region’s identity.  An annual event that has evolved into the biggest celebration of the LGBT community since it began – so it’s thought - as a jumble sale outside a Canal Street pub in the late 80s/early 90s. And this year I was privileged and proud to walk in the parade with many of you - rank and file officers - and police staff.

The uncertainty of legal fees on divorce – how a fixed fee may be the answer

By: Lorraine Harvey, Principal Lawyer, Family Law

Currently, the vast majority of solicitors charge on a time basis and many people feel that they are unable to afford top end legal services and do not believe they can afford a solicitor. Not only do the media often heavily criticise lawyers for their method of charging, but with the withdrawal of Legal Aid and general client dissatisfaction with the legal profession as a whole in respect of legal fees, lawyers need to adapt and respond to this.

Slater & Gordon have combated this archaic approach and now offer fixed fees across their whole range of family law services. A fixed fee has several attractions, most notably:

TAKING STOCK OF THE IPCC’S NEW POWER TO COMPEL ATTENDANCE AT INTERVIEW

By: Nick Holroyd, Senior Principal Lawyer, Criminal & Misconduct

Since 7 March 2013 the IPCC has had the power under the Police (Complaints and Conduct) Regulations 2013 to compel a police officer witness to attend a set location at a set time to be interviewed. This has the potential to impact on the post incident process (PIP) which until recently has worked well. It is anticipated that the power will primarily be used in Death and Serious Injury (DSI) investigations.

The process that had been followed prior to the introduction of the new power was for ‘principal officers’, to provide an initial account before going off duty and then a detailed statement not less than 48 hours thereafter.  This process followed guidance given by ACPO in The Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers.  Following the Guidance gave the officers concerned, the investigating officer and the PIM protection should they be cross examined about the post incident process at a coroner’s inquest.

Variable shift arrangements –A guide for Officers

A shift pattern needs to recognise that demand will be higher on certain days and times in the week and the need to have officers available to meet that demand is an over-arching principle. The rostering of any duty should be in accordance with that demand after due consideration to safe systems of work and officer welfare and is part of an overall resource management package that includes the use of flexible and part-time working and the management of overtime.

Forward planning is fundamental to successful resource management. Known annual occurrences where additional officers or duty changes may be required, (such as religious holidays and festivals, sporting and local community events or any other predictable event should be accounted for when shifts are being arranged. As a previous Chief Constable said, Christmas and New Year should not be exigencies of service with last minute cancelations and deviations.

Winsor Final Report: Agreements reached in PNB – 24 July 2013

Recommendation 55 Pay points 6, 7, and 9 should be removed from the existing constables’ pay scale in April 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. This will allow constables to move to the maximum more quickly and ensure that the current and new pay scales merge in 2016. Staff Side has agreed Recommendation 55 on condition that work is done to ensure that there is no leapfrogging of officers by those with shorter lengths of service. This would require an additional investment of £8.1 million, to which the Official Side has agreed.

Recommendation 84 Pay progression for officers in the Federated ranks should be subject to a satisfactory box marking in the annual appraisal. Those officers who receive a box marking of ‘satisfactory contribution’ or above should advance by one pay increment; those who receive an ‘unsatisfactory contribution ‘ box marking should remain on the same pay point for a further year. This should be introduced for sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors in 2014/15 and for constables in 2015/16. Staff Side has agreed to this recommendation, on the following conditions: 

Federation Conference Bournemouth 14th-16th May 2013

For a Comprehensive review of the Federation Conference please see link below

http://gmpfedezine.co.uk/?p=81

Chief: 'I Cannot Afford To Lose More Officers'

Merseyside Chief Constable has said that he can't lose more officers if force is to fight serious crime and maintain commitment to neighbourhood policing.  See full article below:


http://www.policeoracle.com/news/Police+Staff/2013/Apr/15/Chief-I-Cannot-Afford-To-Lose-More-Officers_63413.html

PC Steve Rawson crash death: Donations 'astound' family

See story below about how the policing family come together in a crisis. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-22125321

Charity Fund Raising Events

Please see below charity fund raising events taking place and I ask that if you are able to please support the officers in their fantastic efforts, your support really will be gratefully received

The Biggest Insult Imaginable

Please see another article from our guest writer @NathanConstable


This week, the Home Secretary announced a "consultation" on Direct Entry into the Police Service.

The concept of Direct Entry has been in circulation for some time but until recently has had little traction.

The Government now suggests that policing is too "insular", a "closed shop" - something of an irony coming from the Houses of Parliament - and that parachuting people from other fields directly into senior policing posts will "enrich" the pool of talent and help forge a service "fit for the 21st Century."

Under the new proposal you will be able to become an Inspector within 3 years or a Superintendent with just 15 months training or, providing you have served in another common law, English speaking country, be teleported straight into a Chief Constable's reclining chair.

An Argument We Can't Win?

Those of  you on Twitter will probably have read tweets and blogs from @NathanConstable, GMP Federation are pleased to announce that he will an independent guest writer for us and over the next few months we will be publishing some of his articles.  It goes without saying that the views expressed are entirely his but he has some good to say.

Below is the first of many articles I hope, can I express my gratitude to @nathanConstable for taking the time out to write this article for us.  I hope you enjoy the article.

Tragic death of Paul McKeever, Chairman of Police Federation of England & Wales

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Paul McKeever, he was an absolute legend and was such an inspirational speaker.  I can remember going to my first conference and being told by one of the other reps that Paul was a churchillian style speaker and to be prepared to be amazed. When Paul first got up to speak i thought to my self hmm he certainly has the build of Churchill. Paul then spoke he had no prompts no written speech and he spoke from the heart.  I felt every word he said, he truly was inspirational and he certainly inspired me.  A true loss to the policing family.

See links to the Federation website to tributes and messages paid to Paul.

http://www.polfed.org/mediacenter/FFCBD6FE1EC5432ABE95981238FF2A0E.asp

http://www.polfed.org/mediacenter/58E22D77480345FEA319BC7E2C352F9B.asp

Also see link to Police Magazine article that was to be published after his retirement

http://www.polfed.org/mag_jan2013_impact_statement.pdf

Police chiefs in line for pay hikes worth up to £18,000... days after starting salary for new recruits was cut by £4,000

Do you get the feeling we were sold down the river.  A certain Chief Constable was told that he was 'feathering his own nest' at last years Federation Conference.  Does this only prove the divide between ACPO and the officers on the front line? 

How can this show that 'we are in this together'. At a time when we are being told that staff wages need to be cut at times of austerity as this is the biggest percentage of police budgets the chiefs are going to be awarded a rise.  Fair? I think not, I wonder which of the Chiefs will actually back their officers and say no!!

Full story can be seen at the link below

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264264/Police-chiefs-line-pay-hikes-worth-18-000--days-starting-salary-new-recruits-cut-4-000.html

A new image for Mr Winsor

HMIC chief's speech regarding policing this week was slightly superficial, according to Royston Martis.

See Royston's article at the link below.  A little to late I think, make your mind up.

http://www.policeoracle.com/news/Comment-A-New-Image-For-Mr-Winsor_60142.html

Federations Response to Home Secretarys written ministerial statement

Responding to the WMS on the Police Arbitration Tribunal, Steve Williams, Police Federation of England and Wales says;

“Whilst we remain disappointed with some of the PATs recommendations we acknowledge that the home secretary has honoured the process of the Police Negotiating Board. We accept that today’s decision by the home secretary’s is binding on the police federation of England and Wales and we will continue to engage fully on behalf of our members.”

The Home Secretary has ratified the following:

•

Expertise and Professional Accreditation Allowance rejected

•

Compulsory severance - negotiations to be extended until July 2013

•

Competency Related Threshold Payments phased out between 2013 and 2016

•

On-call at £15 a session

•

No link between regional allowance and performance, but Met included

•

Accept Official Side pay scale for new entrants at circa £19,000

Written Ministerial Statement - PAT

Review of Remuneration and Conditions of Service for Police Officers and Staff

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May): This statement is about police pay and conditions. It provides the Government’s response to the Police Arbitration Tribunal’s findings on the recommendations in the Final Report of Tom Winsor’s Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions.

On 27 March last year I laid a statement to respond to Tom Winsor’s Final Report of the Review of Remuneration and Conditions Police Officers and Staff, in which I announced that I was directing the Police Negotiating Board to consider proposals relating to pay for police officers in England and Wales as a matter of urgency.

The Police Negotiating Board did not reach agreement on some important proposals in the Final Report, and these were referred to the Police Arbitration Tribunal. The Tribunal has now provided its recommendation and reasons, which I received on 6 December. The Tribunal considered eight recommendations from the Winsor Final Report. The Tribunal accepted one recommendation in its entirety, accepted three proposals with modifications and did not approve one other. The Tribunal recommended that three related recommendations around compulsory severance should be the subject of further discussions in the Police Negotiating Board. I have today placed a copy of the Police Arbitration Tribunal report in the House of Commons Library.

Greater Manchester Police Federation recognised for its service to members

 Greater Manchester Police Federation has been recognised with a prestigious award for high performance in delivering a great level of service to its members. The local branch board was awarded the Investors in People Gold award for going above and beyond in the way it supports, respects and encourages its team representatives and members.

 The report highlighted the branch board’s success in learning and development, people management, communication and their values and principles.

The report also showed how strong, compassionate and supportive leadership within GMP Federation was greatly demonstrated during the shocking and tragic events surrounding the deaths of PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes.