Page 30 - WMPF Federation June-July 2018-flip_Neat

Inspectors: know your rights

nspectors – particularly those newly FACT: Time spent prior to or
promoted to the rank - are being immediately after a tour of duty
Ireminded of their rights and ‘handing over’ to a colleague is
entitlements. NOT casual over-time and should
A ‘Facts and Myths’ document is being be recorded as duty time.
re-circulated to help prove or dispel some of “It is common for many within our
PWYLLGOR CANOLOG YR
the rumours and common misconceptions ranks, who perform the duty officer role, to AROLYGYDDION
about what inspectors are and aren’t start their shift early in order to receive a
entitled to. hand-over from an outgoing colleague and
The booklet covers everything from similarly they then have to stay on at the
unpaid over-time, working hours, rest days end of the shift to hand over to the
owed, time off in lieu and on call. It was incoming duty officer. These hours must, like Your Wellbeing
originally produced by the national all other hours, be accurately recorded on
Federation’s Inspectors’ Central Committee whatever means in use. Who’s Responsible?
and is broken down into facts and myths “We would actually go further and say
with an explanation. that technically it should form part of your
West Midlands Police Federation’s rep roster, but we appreciate that senior
A guide to the working conditions of
Paul Ford said: “We have been approached by managers are unlikely to concede that there
members and inspectors querying what is a need for anyone to either come to work Inspecting Ranks
their right and entitlements are. It is vitally earlier or stay beyond the conclusion of
important that whatever your rank, you their shift and hence agree to its inclusion paid for over-time.
know just what is expected and what you in any roster.” The increase in our pay agreed in 1994
are entitled to. was never meant to compensate you for
“While we are always more than happy FACT: All inspectors and chief regularly working long extended hours.
to take calls and answer questions, hopefully inspectors who are working At the time of the agreement, the then
this information will inform people a little part-time should be paid for any vice chair of ACPO, Paul Whitehouse, wrote
bit more.” hours worked in excess of their agreed to his colleague stating: “Inspectors and
The booklet states: “There has been hours, up to 40 hours in any one week. As chief inspectors, no less than other
much confusion since the introduction of annual leave will be calculated in hours for members of police forces, need to be able to
the 1994 Agreement and many of our part-time inspecting ranks, this may need to plan for their work and for their personal
colleagues appear to know very little about be re-calculated to ensure you receive the and family commitments. Consequently, it
what that actually meant - labouring under correct entitlements. is important that they should be given, so
many misunderstandings which are making far as the exigencies of duty permit,
their actual working conditions more FACT: Officers unwilling or unable reasonable notice of when they will be
arduous than they really need to be. to do so cannot be required to required to be on duty.
“Sadly, in today’s climate of ‘more for undertake ‘on-call’. “For sound reasons to do with health
less’ such misunderstanding is eagerly The legal position of ‘on-call’ is set and welfare of the officer, the safety of
exploited by many of our senior managers. out in the Determinations of the Secretary others and effective working, no police
This has resulted in the inspecting ranks of State as: A member of the rank of officer should be required to work regular
becoming arguably the most ‘put upon’ in constable, sergeant, inspector or chief excessive hours, and over a period of time,
the service.” inspector shall receive an allowance of £15 each officer should be allowed to take the
in respect of each day on which he spends full entitlement to days free from the
FACT: Inspecting ranks can take any time on-call. requirements of duty. This is a particular
owed rest days off at any time A ‘day’ means a period of 24 hours consideration in the case of inspectors, chief
(exigencies of duty permitting) commencing at such time or times as the inspectors and higher ranks who are not
within 12 months of the actual chief officer shall fix after consultation with paid for over-time”.
day being accrued. the Federation, and the chief officer may fix In September 1994, basic inspector
“The 1994 PNB agreement brought different times in relation to different wages were increased by £3,250 a year in
about a significant change in relation to groups of members.” return for a change in entitlements. These
rest days worked. Whereas the other Colleagues who do volunteer to be included:
Federated ranks should be notified within ‘on-call’ need to carefully consider the effects What went in 1994?
four days of when the new rest day is to be of their Force alcohol testing policy. l Compensation in pay for working
taken, that day to be re-rostered to a date over-time, bank holidays or rest days
within 28 days of the day worked, we can MYTH: When we became salaried l Formal concept of ‘time off in lieu’
take them off at any time (exigencies of we accepted working long hours for l Having a duty roster (unless you are
duty permitting) within 12 months of no extra money. part-time)
accruing them. Obviously, the only Contrary to popular belief neither l Set working day of eight hours.
compensation we get for working a rostered side in the negotiating process ever What you got:
rest day is the day off in lieu back so you intended the agreement to worsen the l Re-rostered days for bank holidays and
should carefully consider using days owed working conditions of the inspecting ranks. rest days worked
when it comes to balancing your hours if No police officer should be required to l Flexibility in managing and balancing
you are approaching the WTR limit. work regular excessive hours; this is a your hours
“Any outstanding days over 12-months- particular consideration in the case of l Option of pay at double time for recall
old may, however, be LOST.” inspectors and chief inspectors who are not from annual leave.

30 federation June/July 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com