- Conference
- 2024 Police, Probation and CAFCASS Conference
- Date
- 7 June 2024
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
UNISON has quite rightly mounted a campaign against violence at work and introduced a violence at work charter. It is a campaign that is fully supported by Police Staff members. Violence at work involves any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened, or assaulted (either physically or verbally) in circumstances relating to their work.
Members in our service group face the threat of violence every day. It has long been recognised that violence towards people working in public services, is a significant problem and it’s getting worse. Within policing the Op Hampshire is addressing issues arising from physical assault and the introduction of new legislation relating to the assault of an emergency service worker is very welcome.
Violence at work is not just about physical assault, our members face threats of violence and verbal assault almost every day. The psychological trauma of working in these conditions is very hard to quantify and the long-term effects are mostly unknown. However, the affects of individual incidents can have immediate consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of individuals.
The threat of violence is a reality for many members, particularly when involved with enforcement and investigation. It is important for the service group to raise the profile of police and justice members regarding violence at work by inclusion in UNISON’s campaign and with employers.
Conference calls on the SGE to:
1)Provide information on Police & Justice issues to be fed into UNISON’s campaign.
2)Survey branches about the role out of op Hampshire in their forces.
3)Collate a database of assaults on Police Staff at work.
4)Identify for circulation best practice advice to members and branches.
5)Engage with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to raise awareness and seek support.