THE COST OF LIVING RISE AND ITS IMPACT ON OLDER PEOPLE

This Conference notes: – The emergence of a significant rate of inflation in the economy – The proposed increase in energy prices (gas and electricity) – The National Insurance increase by 1.25 percentage points – The six largest energy companies made in excess of £1billion profit in 2021 Whilst recognising that many older people do […]

Tax Allowance Fairness for Uniform Laundering

Conference notes that: 1)Police staff who are required to launder items of uniform at home are entitled to claim an annual allowance from HMRC to assist with the associated cost; 2)Currently, PCSOs are entitled to claim £140 tax allowance but other police staff can only claim £60; 3)Police officers are also entitled to claim £140. […]

PCSO 20th Anniversary

Conference welcomes UNISON’s PCSO20 campaign to celebrate the 20 year-anniversary of the creation of the PCSO role. Conference notes that PCSOs provide a highly visible police presence. They deter anti-social behaviour, provide reassurance, gather intelligence and work with businesses, schools and statutory partners to keep communities safe. PCSOs are a force for good. People love […]

Confusion Over Probation Service Policies and Procedures

Conference notes that: 1)Feedback from UNISON workplace representatives is that there is increasing confusion within the ranks of Probation Service middle managers regarding the use of appropriate HR policies when dealing with UNISON member issues; 2)At present, it would appear that the use of either Probation Service or wider HMPPS policies is a matter of […]

Opposing Potential Job Cuts in the Probation Service

Conference notes that on 16th May 2022, the government announced an ambition to reduce staffing levels in the Civil Service to 2016 levels by cutting 91,000 jobs. In this government’s distinctive style, these plans appeared hastily drawn up and vague, with no concrete indication of the Civil Service departments where these cuts may fall. Conference […]

Support for Newly Qualified Probation Officers and PQIP staff

Conference may be aware that The Probation Service has experienced an ongoing difficulty with the recruitment and retention of Probation Officers. The latest figures available from the Ministry of Justice indicate that over a third of staff have been in post for less than three years and recruitment and training of Probation Officers since March […]

Bring Back the Joint Secretariat

Conference notes that: 1)The Probation Service has a long history of good industrial relations and joint working; 2)It has taken years of hard work to maintain commitment to the National Negotiating Council (NNC) joint agreement on pay and conditions which was introduced in 2006; 3)The custodians to this agreement were the Joint Secretaries, one from […]

Police & Justice Presence and Visibility

This conference believes that the social media presence and visibility of our service group on the UNISON website needs improvement. It is reasonable for members to expect to be kept updated and to identify with issues that are affecting them. For example, the official service group twitter feed has not been populated since 15/03/2020 and […]

Cost of Living Crisis

Conference recognises that the cost of living crisis now affecting UNISON members in the UK is the worst for 30 years. Inflation is currently running at 9% (March 2022), which is the highest level in three decades. For the value of police, probation and CAFCASS staff salaries not to fall back even further, they must […]

Challenging Sexism, Harassment and Misogyny

This conference condemns any behaviour that falls within the categories of sexism, harassment and misogyny. We are a union that at its core, has values that support the inclusion of women at all levels within our organisation. Women make up the majority membership within UNISON which is reflected within our Service Group. We all have […]

IOPC Investigations

Conference is concerned by certain IOPC (Independent Office of Police Complaints) investigations relating to Police Staff are failing to be investigated proportionately. Some cases relating to police contact are demonstrably targeted at Police Staff unjustifiably. It has been shown that investigations are centred in apportioning blame to our members when evidence suggests that they are […]

Vexatious Complaints

Conference notes with concern that a number of complaints relating to our members that could be considered as vexatious (purely to cause annoyance to the subject). We have seen examples within the workplace and from members of the public who have used the police complaints procedure to damage members, particularly where there is a relationship […]

Happy Birthday PCSOs

Conference wishes to thank all those pioneers that made up the PCSO workforce 20 years ago. Their dedication and commitment embedded the role into modern policing and made the role of PCSO an integral role in the service and to the public we serve. Our PCSOs deal with many more issues today than was envisaged […]

Vetting Following a Misconduct Outcome

This conference understands that members may find themselves in a situation that warrants a disciplinary sanction and as a consequence this sanction may be a written or final written warning. Under these circumstances vetting may be withdrawn, thus having the effect of rendering them unable to continue in their role. This for all intents and […]

Police Staff Health & Safety

Conference is concerned that Health & Safety within the service group has fallen down the priority list in recent years. Our members work in some of the most hazardous environments in public service. The need for the police service to reduce or eliminate the threats of such work has never been more prevalent. It is […]