Page 8 - Here For You: Our Work in 2014

Personnel & Equalities The work of the Personnel and They also helped officers return to work following maternity leave, supported a number of officers who Equalities Committee were injured at work and accessed equality related legal advice for around 40 members. Issues including rank pay, promotions, consistency in the application of regulations, transformation, matters During the year the committee has made great efforts arising from the Winsor review and ill-health retirement to increase partnership working with other Force staff all fall under the remit of the Federation’s Personnel associations, particularly where they are representing and Equalities Committee. officers with protected characteristics. The aim is to develop a more joined up approach. The committee is made up of 16 Federation representatives from across the Force, all of whom “It is early days but we are all making a real commitment are trained in dispute resolution, who meet regularly to making change”, says Peggy Lamont, the personnel to discuss queries brought to them. and equality secretary. “With cuts to our numbers now exceeding 1,400, we may have expected to see a reduction in enquiries In numbers and work for the committee but this has not really been the case as we all stretch ourselves or are put During 2014, the Personnel and under pressure by managers in an attempt to maintain Equalities Committee: a quality policing service,” says Tim Rogers, the Personnel and Equality Chairman. Gave illustrations on more than 150 individual “In addition to the impact of the cuts, changes to pension enquiries regulations, coupled with an aging workforce, make this a challenging time for us all. Our desire is to keep Offered support and advice to 45 supervisors pace ensuring that when our members meet extreme responsible for the implementation of challenge through no fault of their own we are there reasonable adjustments and welfare and fit to help.” management Pension related matters have once again dominated the committee’s work. During 2014, there were more Provided advice, progressed and won two than 100 enquiries on pensions with many being Employment Tribunal cases for officers about restricted duties. Obtained legal advice for 27 officers The committee helped three retired members, who had become ill after leaving the Force, secure early access to deferred pensions while seven pensioners Helped achieve 17 injury awards for officers were also supported through Department of Work and Pensions reviews, ESA deductions and injury award Guided and advised 37 officers through matters. Working jointly with other Federation officials, medical pension applications the committee has helped obtain ill-health pensions for a number of members. Supported 42 officers for medical case Meanwhile, the committee has offered advice and conferences support for two officers involved in Police Medical Appeals Board hearings and, as part of a Federation Helped 139 officers in jeopardy of reduction to team, also helped handle more than 50 medical case half pay, successfully keeping those eligible on conferences. full pay Working across the Force, it has engaged with policy Secured 17 injury awards for makers so that more attention is given to the impact of policies on police officers and ensuring any new retired officers. guidelines comply with regulations. More specifically, committee members were on hand to support the major reorganisation of investigation which gave rise to a large number of appeals on medical, welfare and family grounds. They identified and acted upon the emerging trend of stress within the PPU with evidence presented to the Command Team. 8 47905 WMPF Annual Report 2014.indd 8 30/04/2015 12:06