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The chief of police unions in England and Wales warned on Wednesday they were considering pushing for greater workers’ rights, accusing them of a “broken” relationship with the government over pay and working conditions.
Steve Hartshorn told delegates at the Police Federation’s annual conference that the 145,000 rank-and-file members he represents feel short-changed and underfunded and under-supported by ministers.
The federation’s national president delivered a combative speech in front of Home Affairs Minister Suella Braverman, saying police who were banned from striking had noticed how strike action by other public sector workers had left them Have more leverage in negotiations.
He said this year’s 7% pay increase was “a welcome step in the right direction,” but added that it still leaves officers’ pay 17% lower than it should be.
“For the first time in many years we are talking about seeking greater industrial rights. . . . I don’t know where these conversations will lead,” said Hartshorne, whose organization covers levels from police constables to chief inspector.
He explained that the dialogue started because “the special relationship that existed between governments of all political colors and the police was really broken down”.
Police forces across England and Wales are under unprecedented pressure to improve their crime-fighting records while weeding out rogue officers following a series of scandals.
Six police forces are in special measures to face tougher external scrutiny, including London’s Metropolitan Police, which was convicted of murdering firearms officer Wayne Couzens and two others. Shocked by rape charges.
Hartshorne said police faced “an extremely tumultuous and difficult time”. The criminal behavior of a few officers tarnishes the good work of their colleagues.
He called for a five-year inflation-linked funding solution to offset years of short-term budgets. He added that police officers on duty in England and Wales had been attacked 40,000 times in the past year, equivalent to five incidents every hour.
He said detectives were “bogged down” with high caseloads and responders were bouncing from one job to the next, unable to give crime victims the time and attention they wanted.
“No one joins this job expecting to have an easy life,” he said. “But they do want to be appreciated, valued and supported. Sadly, that is not always the case, whether it is the media, senior police leaders or – sorry to say, the home secretary – but also the government.”
Harthorne said he strongly opposed the government’s plan to abolish the independent misconduct panel and hand sacking powers to police chiefs.
“Your determination is…” . . Introduce tough misconduct practices to appease CEOs who seek to reintroduce a culture of hiring and firing at will, taking advantage of public sentiment,” he told Braverman.
After the speech, the Home Secretary said the government was cutting bureaucracy to allow more officers to fight crime while recruiting an extra 20,000 police officers. She said the 7 per cent salary bonus was set against the backdrop of a “tough economic environment”.
Police culture needs “significant” improvement, she said, while she defended ongoing reforms. “It is right to take action to make it easier for police chiefs to remove officers who are not up to the job. . . . It is right for the public and for the majority of officers who do their jobs bravely and well and need to be able to rely on their colleagues. .”
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