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ACPO comment on the Police Arbitration Tribunal decision
The final decision on police pay and conditions rests with the Home Secretary following a ruling by the Police Arbitration Tribunal today
An ACPO spokesman said:
"A challenging deadline was set for negotiations over pay and conditions and it is regrettable that a negotiated settlement based upon the Winsor recommendations could not be achieved through the Police Negotiating Board. ACPO has always stated that the key to the review of pay and conditions is fairness. ACPO is carefully considering the decision of the Police Arbitration Tribunal but the final decision now rests with the Home Secretary.'
ACPO lead on workforce development Chief Constable Peter Fahy added:
"The findings of the Police Arbitration Tribunal will require some consideration. Overall, the decisions appear to strike a balance between the need to achieve savings given the national economic situation and the financial pressures facing individual police officers. Chief officers would liked to have seen a greater move towards future longer term pay reform but accept this may be best dealt with in the next stage of the Winsor report.
"The two-year pay freeze combined with a two-year increment freeze, the removal of various bonus payments and the increase in pension contributions will have a significant impact on many staff. It is right that those working unsocial hours should receive an additional payment. Over time ACPO would like to see a greater emphasis on recognising the considerable expertise of our staff in the pay system and a lesser importance on time served.
"This decision of the Arbitration Panel needs to be fully costed, including the impact on Olympics planning. We hope that the Home Secretary will make an early decision so that forces and members of staff can have some certainty over future finances.”
For more information contact
The ACPO press office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally-led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.
ACPO’s 329 members consist of 242 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 66 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 21 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.