Job Threats in the Police Services

The recent announcements from police forces within England and Wales regarding job losses are a threat to the membership of this union. The continued practice of cutting Police Staff posts to cover budgetary shortfalls is an outrage to our members and the public. The annual practice of threats to our member’s jobs and livelihoods, not […]

Recognition

Conference recognises with great pride the success of the introduction of Police Community Support Officers within England and Wales. It is a shame that this invaluable work is not recognised by the employer or the Home Office. The Janes’ Police review Community Police Officer of the Year Awards recognises the work of Community Police Officers […]

POLICE OFFICER STRENGTH STATISTICS

Conference notes that the Government’s headline statistics for Police Officer strength do not differentiate between those officers in front line roles and those undertaking roles which could be undertaken by Police Staff. As political parties of all persuasions see this crude figure as a campaigning issue, there is a risk that the Government might be […]

MAY DAY CELEBRATION

This branch of UNISON attended the 2006 TUC May Day Rally held in London which called for Trade Union Rights for 21st Century and workplace justice. As part of the fastest growing service group within UNISON, we were proud to show our solidarity with fellow trade unionists and allies the world over, on this important […]

Shared Police Control Rooms and Remote Processing

Conference is alarmed at the growing threat to Police Staff jobs posed by the sharing of Police Control Rooms with other Emergency Services. Workforce Modernisation, Force Restructuring and Regionalisation work on the simple basis of efficiency gains. Therefore Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)liaise with the Home Office to identify the extent and […]

Police Force Amalgamations and Joint Working

This Conference supports the UNISON position statement on Force restructuring. It notes that amalgamations are now not likely to proceed in the near future but believes that we must remain vigilant and able to respond to developments and the changing situation. Consequently Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)consider alternative responses to possible future […]

Operational Police Staff Supervisors

The Home Office’s insistence that Police Staff no longer hold the position of supervisor is of great concern to Conference. This is particularly evident with PCSOs and Enquiry Desk Officers. The Home Office believes that Police Officers and Sergeants can fill this void. They hold the view that local beat officers may handle operational direction […]

Essential Training for Police Staff

Police Staff are lacking a structured approach to their own training and development. There is little to no scope for progression/movement into other areas of work and there is very limited IT Systems training. Police Staff development consists of applying for jobs and being successful and very few progressive routes exist. It is essential that […]

Vetting of Police Staff

Conference notes the increased intrusiveness of vetting, especially financial vetting of Police Staff. Conference also notes that local forces are trying to implement their own vetting procedures but there are no nationally agreed procedures. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)provide support and information to branches on how to resist the implementation of local […]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Police Staff Participation

Conference is appalled at the timing of the trial/pilot in merging of Police Staff Conference and Seminar, to coincide with the closing of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Conference. This raises significant participation and confidentiality issues for Police Staff members who identify as LGBT and are not ‘Out’ within the work place or […]

Short Term Funding

Conference notes with increasing concern and alarm that the Service Group Executive has failed to implement any of the motions raised on this issue in 2004 (motions 11 and 27) and 2005 (motion 20) on short term funding particularly with regard to Police Community Support officers (PCSOs). Government funding for PCSOs, Custody Officers and Volume […]

The Best Education for All

Conference reiterates its policy and belief that children, families and communities are best served by a secondary system that is comprehensive, free of selection and accountable to local people through Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and condemns the government for effectively turning education (a social and cultural aspect of society) into a market, eroding the potential […]

Public Services

Conference records that the last Spending Review by the Chancellor committed an extra £60 billion to public services up to 2008, with £40 billion going to the National Health Service (NHS). Despite this growth, and accompanying increases in public sector jobs, there has been a misguided efficiency drive and marketisation strategy that is leading to […]

Under Funding of Social Care

Conference believes that there is a great need for a review of the challenges and demands facing social care, and the resources that will be needed to deliver social care fit for the 21st century. Conference welcomes the current review by Sir Derek Wanless of social care for older people in England but regrets that […]

Protecting our Environment and maintaining our energy supplies

Conference notes with concern that the overwhelming consensus of scientific opinion and research is that global warming and climate change represent one of the greatest risks to life on our planet. Conference notes with regret and deep concern that the steps taken by the United Kingdom (UK) Government and the devolved administrations since 1997 to […]