Page 24 - WMPF Federation FEB-MAR 2022_Neat

CHIEF’S PLEDGE

‘Rest days should only be

cancelled as last resort’

he Chief Constable has made it clear that These included officers claiming travel time exceeded because it is right to do so, the
officers’ rest days should only be and officers who have had their rest day statutory minimum wage is one such example.
T cancelled as a last resort. cancelled ending up with no compensation “While there is nothing to prevent this
And West Midlands Police Federation will compared to volunteers who receive over-time. practice within Regulations, we have strongly
now work closely with Force planners to Rich explained: “Our starting point is that challenged the Force, including the Chief
ensure robust systems are in place to ensure want to ensure that all officers can rely on Constable directly, to aspire to a better position
that is the case. their basic rights within Police Regulations. An than the minimum the law provides for. We
The Federation chair, Rich Cooke, and officer is on duty from the point they collect want the Force to agree to pay officers at the
secretary, Tim Rogers, have met with Assistant PPE and are doing necessary travel to arrive at same rate regardless of how they have been
Chief Constable Mike O’Hara and other senior their muster point for the briefing. recruited for a fixture and accept the extra
members of the Force’s Operations Planning “This should normally not exceed an hour cost. Clearly, this is difficult given the
unit to discuss a number of recent issues. within the Force area. Officers should never be constrained financial climate, however, we
“ WE WANT THE FORCE TO Section 5 firearm (PAVA or CS) without the full and retention of skills we need while such
left in a position where they are carrying a
emphasise we will not achieve the commitment
unfairness persists.”
support and safety net that being ‘on duty’
AGREE TO PAY OFFICERS AT

provides. I would also remind colleagues to
Officers have told the Federation chair they
use when using their own vehicles for this
rest days for fear that if they don’t their days
THE SAME RATE REGARDLESS ensure they are insured for Class 1 business often feel coerced into volunteering on their
purpose. off will be cancelled in any case.
“This sense of coercion is unacceptable to
“The Planning Unit acknowledges this and
OF HOW THEY HAVE BEEN recent communication which appeared to the Federation, and we believe it must stop,”
contradict this has been withdrawn. says Rich, “All these points have been well
RECRUITED FOR A FIXTURE “The disparity of pay for officers who made on members’ behalf. There is no
volunteer for over-time and officers who have agreement on equality of payment for cancelled
AND ACCEPT THE EXTRA COST. had their rest day cancelled is a more difficult rest days yet, but the Chief Constable has made
one to resolve, which is a pity. There are many clear that cancellation of rest days is something
CLEARLY, THIS IS DIFFICULT areas where the minimum the law stipulates is he does not want to see.”
GIVEN THE CONSTRAINED

FINANCIAL CLIMATE,

HOWEVER, WE EMPHASISE

WE WILL NOT ACHIEVE THE

COMMITMENT AND

RETENTION OF SKILLS WE

NEED WHILE SUCH

UNFAIRNESS PERSISTS.

24 federation February/March 2022 www.polfed.org/westmids