POLICE AUTHORITY
 
17TH NOVEMBER 1992
 
INQUIRY INTO POLICE PAY AND CONDITIONS
 
REPORT OF THE CLERK
 
1.   At their last meeting, Members were promised information
     concerning the progress of the Sheehy Inquiry into Police
     Responsibilities and Rewards.
 
2.   The Local Authority Associations representing police authorities
     in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the police authority
     representatives of the Official Side of the Police Negotiating
     Board have now produced their evidence which has been submitted
     to the Inquiry.  It represents the views of the national
     representatives of all Police Authorities in the United Kingdom
     apart from the Metropolitan Police (whose Police Authority is
     the Home Secretary).  The Local Government Management Board, in
     a press release, have summarised the issues arising as follows:-
 
     (i)  Abolition of the rank of Inspector, Chief Inspector,
          Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Chief
          Constable and Deputy Chief Constable and replacement with a
          local, flexible pay and grading structure.
 
    (ii)  Ending of central government control of police numbers
          with, instead, individual Police Authorities deciding on
          the appropriate police establishment.
 
   (iii)  Ending of pay enhancements for overtime and public holidays
          for all ranks.
 
    (iv)  Consolidation of housing allowances into basic pay rates.
 
     (v)  Ending of open-ended sick pay entitlements.
 
    (vi)  Introduction of fixed term contracts for senior officers.
 
3.   The Association of County Council's Police Committee considered
     that these changes would enable the Police Service to be more
     flexible, more locally accountable and more responsive to the
     public.  Police pay would still reflect the unique
     responsibilities of police officers and arrangements would be
     retained to guarantee special pay treatment.
 
4.   Other reforms proposed by the Local Authority Associations
     include guaranteed updating of police salaries in line with
     other workers' pay settlements; additional annual leave;
     enhanced pay for good performance; freedom for police officers
     to live where they wish; and reduced power of Central Government
     to veto police pay awards.
 
5.   Some reports appearing in the press have been misleading,
     implying that the police authorities are advocating the total
     abolition of various police ranks.  From the actual evidence,
     however, it is clear that this is not the case.  Indeed, the
     Association of County Council's Police Committee would clearly
     be most unlikely to support such a move.
 
6.   In view of the importance of the Inquiry, it may be thought
     appropriate for a small Panel of Members to be appointed to
     consider an make representations to the Inquiry on behalf of the
     Hampshire Police Authority.  The Panel would also consider the
     evidence to be put forward by the police associations.
 
     RECOMMENDATION:
 
     That a Panel of Members be appointed to consider evidence
     presented to the Sheehy Inquiry and to make representations to
     the Inquiry on behalf of the Hampshire Police Authority.
 
 
8FR94102

Up: Top of this page       Home: Hantsweb Homepage