Employment of Ex Police Officers – Jobs for the Boys

This Branch notes that, due to the Edmund Davies effect, many Police Officers are reaching the end of their current careers and retiring on substantial pensions. These officers are then being re-employed in Police Staff roles immediately after “retiring” with some of the job descriptions being tailored towards ex police officers. When all police forces […]

Privatisation

Conference notes with extreme concern the decision of Cleveland Police to privatise its 999 Service and the transfer of jobs and services of over 600 police staff to a foreign owned, profit making company. This organisation, although being funded by the public purse, is unaccountable to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Conference further notes that […]

Raising the profile of Police Staff

Conference calls upon the Service Group Executive (SGE) to be proactive in raising the profile of police staff by ensuring that the government, the media and the public are made aware of the wide variety of roles we perform. These roles are commonly referred to as ‘back office’ functions, which is misleading and serves only […]

Shared Services, Collaboration and Mergers

Conference recognises that shared services and collaboration are now major issues for our members in police forces in England and Wales. Along with the Treasury’s Total Place initiative, collaboration threatens our members’ jobs, and the services they provide to local communities. Conference also notes that police force mergers are back on the agenda in some […]

Cuts to Jobs, Pay and Services

Conference is appalled by both the speed and the scale of cuts that have already taken place and the extent of cutbacks that are being built into future expenditure plans by police authorities across England and Wales. This includes unnecessary and damaging plans by all political parties to freeze or cut Council Tax, with disastrous […]

Defending and Reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Conference is alarmed by the ongoing attacks on the LGPS from politicians, local councils, the Taxpayers’ Alliance, the CBI, the Institute of Directors and others. Conference also notes with concern the government’s ‘cap and share’ proposals for cost-sharing within the LGPS. Conference welcomes the response by UNISON and the LGPS Trade Union Side and the […]

Police Staff Protection

Since Modernisation the extended deployment of Police Staff has been recognised as a vital component in helping to tackle crime and provide visible patrols contributing to neighbourhood safety. At a time when all Forces are facing financial constraints Conference is concerned that Police Authorities will sacrifice Police Staff in order to maintain Police Officer numbers. […]

Volunteers in the Police Service

Tayside Police, like many other Forces throughout the UK are currently conducting reviews of efficiency savings. Our own ‘Transforming Tayside’ is effectively a Best Value Review of the business. This BVR highlighted in January 2010 the issue of other Forces utilising volunteers in expanding engagement with the community such as Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire. Whilst […]

Mainstreaming LGBT Equality

During this period of public sector cuts, as we feel the impact on police and justice, this conference notes the risk of dwindling support for equality issues, including lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) issues, in the police and justice services. Police and justice diversity departments face downsizing and our members face cuts or increasing […]

Communicating with LGBT members

Police and ustice Conference affirms the importance of excellent communication in our union organising, noting that those who are most isolated often need our communications the most. Conference notes that UNISON does not monitor or record which of its members are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) members. This means that the only way to […]

Value for Money

Conference condemns the recent criticisms of police staff not providing “value for money” by the Police Federation. Conference calls for all Police Authorities to look at further civilianisation of posts which do not require warranted Officers to carry out the role. Civilianisation of these posts will realise savings for individual Police Authorities while releasing those […]

Retired Member representation within the Trades Union Congress

Conference notes that retired members are included among the total number of UNISON members for affiliation to the Trades Union Congress. Conference further notes that the present method of representation to the Annual Conference of the TUC does not include any retired members. Conference further believes that the present method of representation of retired trades […]

Increase in Winter Fuel Allowance

Conference regrets that the latest excess winter deaths statistics for England and Wales has risen by a 49% increase in the period December 2008 to March 2009 (National Pensioners Convention statistics). An estimated 36,700 older people died of cold related illness compared to 25,300 the previous winter, which is 11,400 more. Statistics are not available […]

Packaging, Small Print and Colour Contrast

Shopping is a nightmare for older people and people with disabilities. Packaging – especially that used for food items – can be very difficult for arthritic and crippled old fingers to get into. Older people’s eyes find small print a problem. Yet health authorities recommend that people should read the nutrition information on food packaging. […]

Post Offices

Conference Instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee and calls on the National Executive Council to liaise with the National Pensioners’ Convention, Trades Union Congress and all appropriate organisations to campaign for the cessation of the Post Office closure programme, with particular reference to rural areas as they are often the centre of village life for […]