Page 5 - In Force Winter 2017_Neat

Regional motions Can you

secure backing support day of
action for

Norfolk PCSOs?
Four motions put forward by the East staff associations to raise awareness of
Midlands regional branches won the the effects of austerity on the police Police staff from the Force who would
backing of conference and will now be service and their respective members, like to support a day of action in
taken forward. maximising media opportunities and Norwich on 2 December in support of
The motions were: encouraging branches to raise awareness Norfolk PCSOs are being urged to
Police staff vetting double jeopardy with the public. contact the Leicestershire Police
Conference instructed the Service Group The motion stated: “Our members UNISON branch.
Executive (SGE) to: have lived with austerity for seven long The day of action has been
l Develop a negotiating strategy in years and as such we have seen the service organised after the Norfolk Chief
relation to staff vetting. to the public diminish and the
l Make representations to the Police consequences on our members’health.” Constable Simon Bailey announced
proposals to scrap the Police
Staff Council, the National Police Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Community Support Officer role from
Chiefs’ Council Vetting Group and the Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS): come 1 April next year, effectively leaving all
College of Policing with a view to clean about cuts to policing of the Force’s 150 PCSOs facing
negotiating a fair process for members. Conference instructed the SGE to:
l Negotiate as far as is reasonably l Enter dialogue with the HMIC to redundancy.

Mr Bailey is arguing that
practicable, a fair and transparent determine what areas of its inspection abolishing the role of PCSO will save
appeals procedure for members who are concerned with the impact of the force around £1.6 million, money
are subject to loss of vetting status. austerity
l Develop guidance for branches on l Discuss with the HMICFRS the he says would fund 81 extra police
officers and 16 police staff. Norfolk is
vetting once negotiations are potential and tangible impact that also planning to close seven public
concluded.
austerity is having on the police staff
“ ALL WE ARE ASKING IS FOR l Where possible identify with the in some county schools as it seeks to
counters and withdraw officers based
workforce
save money.
HMICFRS areas where inspections can
THE SAME

“This announcement has sent
issues facing our members because of
CONSIDERATION THAT be improved to better identify the shockwaves across all forces,” says
Chris Hanrahan, branch secretary at
austerity
ANY OTHER CITIZEN HAS l Encourage the HMICFRS to put these Leicestershire Police UNISON,
“Abolishing the PCSO role will in effect
findings into inspection reports.
IN RAISING LEGITIMATE Police staff and the Independent Police rip the heart out of neighbourhood
Complaints Commission (IPCC) policing teams and could take away
COMPLAINTS WITH THE such a huge element of the visible
Since the introduction of the Police Reform policing presence that we know
APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY. Act 2002, police staff have been prevented communities want and need.
from raising complaints about the level of
“We have been asked to send
UNISON is concerned at the way in service they have received from the police members to Norwich on the day to
which national vetting procedures are as private citizens. The act specifically support the campaign activities and
affecting members. There are numerous prevents them making a complaint when to add our voice to the calls for Norfolk
examples of staff going through they receive a poor service from the police Constabulary to reverse its disastrous
misconduct procedures where the in their own force area. decision to abolish PCSOs in the
outcome has been short of dismissal. They are encouraged instead to use county.
But this often triggers a vetting review internal grievance procedures to resolve “The branch will pay reasonable
which will see vetting status diminished complaints that should be dealt with expenses to any of our members who
due to the outcome of the misconduct under the police complaints procedure. wish to attend, this will include travel
process. The motion stated: “All we are asking is and subsistence.”
A change in vetting status as result of for the same consideration that any other If you would like to attend, please
the misconduct process will very often citizen has in raising legitimate complaints contact Paul Gurney in the branch
result in dismissal, which was clearly not with the appropriate authority.” office or email paul.gurney@
the wish of the employer, and leads to Conference instructed the SGE to raise leicestershire.pnn.police.uk
double jeopardy for members. the issue with the Home Office, police You can find out more about the
The effects of austerity on our members minister, shadow police minister, IPCC and campaign on the UNISON Eastern PAGE 5
and the service they provide the Home Affairs Select Committee and Region website at https://tinyurl.
Conference called on the SGE to work in then report developments to next year’s com/ybj4vexo
partnership with other unions and police conference.