Professional Standards Department (PSD) Investigations

Conference is concerned by the apparent lack of objectivity within Professional Standards Department (PSD) investigations and the lack of knowledge with regard to Police Staff Terms and Conditions and employment legislation. The manner in which investigations and the subsequent information are presented and produced often call into question the reported facts where our members under […]

Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) Guidelines on Staff Complaints

Confusion exists regarding the right of Police Staff to raise complaints with the IPCC regarding the service they receive from the police as service provider as tax paying citizens. The IPCC guidance suggests that our members are unable to make complaints about service provision issues within their own force. Conference therefore instructs the Service Group […]

Disability Discrimination in sickness absence, capability and disciplinary procedures

This Conference believes that Police Authorities continue to discriminate against disabled workers despite their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and their responsibilities according to the Disability Equality Duty. Harsh sickness absence policies that fail to take account of disability related leave as advised in the Code of Practice for Employment and Occupation, Capability procedures […]

Violence and aggression towards Staff

Conference is concerned that violence and aggression towards Police Staff members is on the increase. Conference notes the necessary personal protective equipment and training for front line operational staff is not forthcoming from certain forces. Conference believes that this training and basic equipment is sadly a necessity in the modern policing environment and that the […]

Protecting Members in the Custody environment from false allegations

Our members working in custody are vulnerable to all sorts of false allegations from detained persons; these allegations have included physical and sexual assault. Once the allegations are made our members are put under immense pressure for long periods of time until investigations are complete. This causes not only difficulties at work, but home also. […]

Support to Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in the Press

Conference notes the positive actions undertaken by the Police Staff Service Group National Officer and the UNISON General Secretary in supporting Police Community Support Officers after a tragic accident in Manchester, where our colleagues were abused and attacked by the national press. Furthermore Conference notes the letter sent by the General Secretary to the Press […]

What is an Exigency of the Service?

Conference you may recall this issue being raised a few years ago by the North West Region. Yet Conference it has become a phrase that is now being used almost on a daily basis when managers want to change/cancel annual leave, rest days, shifts etc. Merseyside’s Chief Constable, on a forum, agreed with Chief Constable […]

Unjust Sickness Self-Certification

Conference Motion 2 in 2007 was overwhelmingly carried. To date Conference notes that there has been no work undertaken by the Service Group Executive (SGE) on this issue other than a mention in the recently circulated draft Attendance Management Document. Conference notes with great concern the practice of self-certification being withdrawn. It is common practice […]

Outsourcing by Another Name!

Conference is concerned by the increase in shared service working involving the transfer of business to private companies; this is not a shared service it is outsourcing. Conference motions on this issue have been before you – motion 13 in 2005, motions 2 and 6 in 2006 and motion 9 in 2007. The Trade Union […]

Fuel Costs and Mileage Rates

Defend Our Schools

Social Care

Conference condemns the continuing drive towards further privatisation and fragmentation of social care services but welcomes genuine initiatives to improve standards of care to service users. In this respect the use of personal care budgets as a source of greater independence and control for service users merits investigation. However, Conference views with concern that this […]

Academies

This Local Government Service Group reaffirms its opposition to the Government’s academies programme. We note with concern the Government’s plan to increase the number of academies to 400. We believe that this expansion will lead to the increased privatisation marketisation of education and encourage the development of the two tier workforce. The government is putting […]

The Equality Duties

Conference recognises that the Public Sector Equality Duties are a real opportunity for progress on equality in local government and welcomes the recent UNISON guidance on using the equality duties and the development of UNISON’s own equality scheme. The EOC (now EHRC) Guidance code lists key employment issues that should be considered by public authorities […]

Pay for Local Government Workers Covered by the National Joint Council (NJC)

Conference condemns the Government proposed 3 year 2% public sector pay ceiling. With inflation at more than 4% for the past year this is effectively a pay cut and at the same time pay rises in the private sector are running at 3.5% – 4%. Conference also condemns the blatant hypocrisy demonstrated by a majority […]