SCOTTISH
POLICE FEDERATION
5 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF
MEDIA
RELEASE
The Scottish Police Federation represents all police officers in the
ranks of chief inspector and below, about 15,000 people, over 98% of
all police officers in Scotland.
To:
Date:
Subject: |
Editors
27
July 2007
Police
Pay 2007 |
POLICE
NEGOTIATING BOARD – STAFF SIDE
MEDIA
RELEASE
27
th July 2007
UK
Governments face fight with police for fair pay
Government's
praise of police officers is short lived as the Official Side fail to
offer police a fair pay increase
All
talk and no action is the message coming out loud and clear from the
new government today as police officers were told they would not be
awarded a fair police pay award this year, with a mere 2.325% being
offered as compensation for putting their lives on the line every day.
Norrie
Flowers, Chairman of the Scottish Police Federation advised that police
officers had rejected this offer and said;
“Despite
the increasing threat and reality of terrorist activity and the vital
role police officers recently played to save life and property during
the recent floods, the government is on course for an all out war with
the UK's 170,000 officers. We're not being greedy; all we want is a
fair pay deal to reflect the increasing dangers we face. “
Following
a battle last year the government broke away from a 28 year old agreement
which ensured fair pay for police and resulted in nearly three decades
of harmonious industrial relations. This year the employer side of the
Police Negotiating Board were told to look only at recommendations put
forward by the government stalwart, Sir Clive Booth, who has clearly
failed to take into account the dangers officers face, the restrictions
on their public and private lives and their inability to take industrial
action.
Jan
Berry, Chairman of PNB Staff Side said:
“ It's ironic that only weeks ago, whilst addressing the Association
of Chief Police Officers, Gordon Brown praised the efforts and hard
work of police officers and paid tribute to the dangerous and challenging
role officers today face in the fight against terrorism and cross-border
crimes. He said ‘ There is no greater responsibility than that which
you as police officers accept… It is clear why we as a government have
a duty to provide you with the support and protection to back you in
what you have to do and be there for you - because you are always there
for us'. Fine words Mr Brown, but the reality is a slap in the face
when it comes to fair pay for the officers out there running from one
job to another and facing unknown dangers and threats every day.”
Since
the 1978 Edmund-Davies review police pay arrangements have sought to
reflect the limited employment rights afforded to officers; police are
prohibited from taking any form of industrial action, the fact they
are accountable for their actions on and off duty and the mounting dangers
posed by terrorism, gun and knife crime.
Mr
Flowers concluded by saying:
“What
angers me, is that the frontline police officers throughout the UK who
put their lives on the line every day, who battle bravely to safeguard
people and property and who disregard their own safety in the fight
against terror are once again being undervalued by Government”.
“It
is these very officers who are now having to fight for a fair pay formula
that takes account of the fact they are accountable for their actions
and inactions 24/7 and would face imprisonment if they took industrial
action; this is one battle we shouldn't have to fight.
“We
have new governments throughout the UK . It's not too late for them
to stand up for policing and ensure that officers receive a fair pay
award.”
ENDS
Notes
for Editors
•
On 24 th July an Early Day Motion (EDM) was tabled in Parliament.
The EDM reads:
EDM
1986 24/7/07
FAIR
PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS
That
this House recognises the bravery and hard work of the police and
commends police officers for adapting to meet the diverse challenges
asked of them, from the fight against crime and the implementation
of community policing to the fight against terrorism and dealing with
natural emergencies such as the floods affecting large parts of the
United Kingdom; and calls upon the Home Office to recognise the unique
role of the Office of Constable and ensure that UK police officers
are given a fair pay settlement from 1st September 2007 which reflects
the daily dangers they face, the fact that they are accountable for
their actions both on duty and off duty and are prohibited from taking
industrial action.
•
A report released today by the Home Affairs Select Committee on 19
th July found that the real time investment given to police had not
produced the results expected. The report criticised senior managers
in policing for poor resource allocation.
•
Since 1979 police pay has been up-rated in line with an index linked
to pay rates for the preceding 12 months.
•
The method of increasing police pay on an annual basis by application
of an earning index was to ensure police officers pay did not fall
behind that of other groups of workers as had previously meant
low retention rates and difficulty recruiting officers.
•
The (Police Negotiating Board) PNB was set up by statute in 1980 for
the purpose of negotiation police pay and conditions. It is independently
chaired with its own secretariat. Two sides make up PNB; Staff Side
represents police officers up to an including chief officers and the
Official Side represents the employers; government, the Association
of Police Authorities and Association of Chief Police Officers.
For further information contact Lesley Stevenson at 5 Woodside
Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF
Telephone: 0141 332 0901 Mobile: 07967 104173 Fax: 0141 331 2436
Email: lesley.stevenson@spf.org.uk
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