NHS Dentistry

Conference calls upon the National Executive Council to take appropriate steps to ensure the government addresses the problem of lack of National Health Service dental provision. The shortage of such dental practices is discriminating against older people on low incomes who are unable to afford private treatment.

Packaging Standards

Conference calls upon the National Executive Council to make representation to the appropriate organisation responsible for packaging standards, with a view to easing the opening of packages, jars and bottles for older people. Considerable difficulties are experienced in opening packages, jars and bottles, especially when suffering with fingers and hands crippled with arthritis/rheumatism and so […]

Restoration of the Value of the State Pension

The pension credits scheme was introduced in October 2003 but many pensioners have still not applied for this means-tested benefit. John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, has confirmed that the surplus in the national insurance fund this year amounts to £30 billion. The government actuary has ruled that £5 billion has to be retained […]

Police Staff SGE Annual Report

This Conference receives the report of the Police Staff Service Group Executive.

Use of Titles to DEscribe Police Staff

Conference welcomes the tremendous effort in furthering our professionalism through our name – Police Staff. However, some of our colleagues in the Staff Associations (ACPO, PSA and Federation) insist on using other terms to differentiate our professionalism. The use of such terminology could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to ensure less favourable development towards […]

Additional National Resources for Service Group

The Police Staff Service Group is still in its infancy and since its inception, much work has been done by our Service Group Executive to raise the profile of UNISON members employed within the Police Service. With the introduction of the Police Reform Act and the many other initiatives being introduced in the Police Service, […]

Disability Discrimination Act

Conference welcomes the inclusion of our police colleagues within the Disability Discrimination Act, therefore dismantling another barrier within the Police Service. Conference is concerned about the effect this will have on police staff roles, responsibilities, development, job evaluation and the roll-out of the Civilianisation Programme. Conference is further concerned that there will be a disparity […]

PFI Two Tier Workforce

Conference remains opposed to all PFI and believes that all services connected to the police service must remain in the public domain, obtaining value for money. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to: 1)write to the Home Office and APA to reinforce UNISON’s position in relation to PFI; 2)write to the APA/CCs/Home Office and PSC […]

Regionalisation

Conference notes that it is still very unclear on how regionalisation will impact on policing and police forces. Conference is extremely disappointed that UNISON appears to have forgotten the Police Service Group and only appears to have concentrated on its impact on Local Government. Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to produce a comprehensive report […]

Shift Patterns

Conference is concerned at the continued difficulties faced by branches in negotiating variations to shift patterns for our members. It is recognised that there are innumerable versions across different forces and that they vary in their effectiveness in meeting the needs of our members. In order to enable branches to be more effective, Conference instructs […]

Outsourcing of Forensic Services

This Conference is concerned that the Home Office is continually eroding the forensic services provided by police staff as a cheaper option. Conference recognises that this is not the case. UNISON believes that this is a core public service to which the principles of direct accountability apply. As such, this service must remain wholly publicly […]

Health and Safety

Conference notes with concern the lack of guidance and advice for branches relating to health and safety issues for police staff. More and more of our members are becoming ‘front-line staff’ yet information on health and safety for police specific issues is rare. The police service is going through many changes and branch resources are […]

Short -Term Funding

Conference notes the continued short-term funding for police staff for initiatives such as PSCOs and Custody Officers. Conference also notes that the short- term funding for Volume Crime Investigators is soon to run out. The reluctance of the Home Office to recognise that successful initiatives should be permanently funded is unacceptable. Continuance of this stance […]

Civilianisation Not Privatisation

Conference supports fully the Civilianisation programme within the Police Service. However, when does ‘civilianisation’ become ‘privatisation’? Forces are more and more informing their police authorities, communities and staff that it is civilianising police officer posts. However, police staff and communities do not see these roles being advertised; this is due to the real fact that […]

Workforce Modernisation

Conference understands that the Home Office wishes to engage with UNISON and other stakeholders over a police pay and workforce strategy for England and Wales. Conference notes that this engagement may now take place in the context of the PSC Pay and Reward Review. Conference confirms that it wishes to see the following problems being […]