Police officers allowances

Report: 10
Date: 1 November 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper provides details of the various allowances payable to police officers; the costs of those allowances; and the authority process applicable to them.

A. Recommendations

That:

1. Members note the various allowances payable and the authority process applying to them; and
2. Members agree that those allowances negotiated through PNB and ratified by the Home Secretary should be approved formally by the Clerk, in consultation with the Treasurer. This would be in line with the decision reached on 21 June 2001 regarding the approval of increases to other allowances.

B. Supporting information

1. On 21 June 2001, the Human Resources Committee approved increases to motor cycle mileage allowance and special escort duty allowance payable to police officers and delegated to the Clerk and Treasurer authority to agree future increases, subject to certain conditions. The Committee asked for more information about all the allowances that could be claimed by police officers.

2. There are two main types of allowance:

1. those negotiated through the PNB process and subsequently ratified by the Home Secretary
2. those which do not need to go through the PNB process.

3. Appendix 1 lists the various allowances payable and the amounts paid in 2000/01. List A contains those allowances that are negotiable through PNB. List B shows the two allowances payable to MPS officers, which are not.

4. Police authorities as represented on the Official Side of PNB have the opportunity to influence whether or not List A allowances should be increased. Once agreement has been reached between the Official and Staff Sides of PNB about a change or an increase, the agreement is referred for ratification to the Home Secretary. A Home Office Circular confirming the Home Secretary's approval provides the police authority with the formal authority to pay the increases.

5. The two allowances that are not subject to PNB negotiation are motorcycle mileage allowance and special escort allowance. The former was delegated by PNB to police authorities to decide on any increase thought appropriate. The Home Secretary some years ago approved the latter in order to compensate officers engaged mainly on royalty, diplomatic and other protection duties for long hours. Officers paid the allowance are not entitled to claim overtime.

6. Increases to the motorcycle mileage allowance are for the police authority to decide. There is no need to seek ratification from the Home Secretary.

7. Increases to the special escort duty allowance are for the police authority to recommend to the Home Secretary. When the allowance was first approved for MPS officers, the Home Office required that subsequent increases should be subject to the Home Secretary's approval. The regulation under which it is made (Regulation 61) refers to the approval of the Secretary of State on the recommendation of the police authority. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that original approval for it was not given in the Home Secretary's then role as police authority for the MPS.

8. Traditionally, the increases sought for the special escort duty allowance have been in line with increases to police basic pay and other allowances.

9. For List A allowances, approval by the police authority to pay is a formality. It is recommended that formal approval should be given by the Clerk in consultation with the Treasurer.

10. The HR Committee agreed at its meeting on 21 June 2001 that the Clerk and Treasurer should be authorised to agree future increases to List B allowances provided that the increases matched those agreed by PNB for nationally negotiated allowances and subject to certain other conditions.

11. The Committee is therefore invited:

• to note the various allowances payable;
• to agree that, once formal ratification of the increases has been given by the Home Secretary after negotiation through PNB, increases to List A allowances should be approved by the Clerk, in consultation with the Treasurer, in line with the process agreed at the meeting on 21 June 2001 for the two allowances in List B.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising from these recommendations.

D. Background papers

Report 9 to the Human Resources Committee, 21 June 2001.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Ian Wardrop, Assistant Director of Personnel.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Police allowances

List A - allowances negotiated by the PNB

List B - allowances not subject to negotiation through PNB

* Allowances usually increased annually after negotiation at PNB
Ø Abolished with effect from 1 July 2001

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