Police Negotiating Board update

Report: 9
Date: 7 March 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

The report informs the Human Resources Committee of the main topics discussed at the meetings of the Police Negotiating Board and Police Advisory Board on 24 January 2002. It also sets out the current position on the Heads of Agreement as discussed at the Police Negotiating Board on 25 February 2002.

A. Recommendation

That Members note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The report provides Members with an update of the main matters discussed at the Police Advisory Board (PAB) and Police Negotiating Board (PNB) on 24 January 2002. It excludes the Police Reform Agenda, which is the subject of a separate verbal report at this meeting. The main topics covered are set out below.

Full Police Negotiating Board

Pension for Chief Officers

2. It was agreed that Chief Officers should receive the same treatment as any ordinary police officer in respect of their pension entitlement in the event of dismissal.

Part time working

3. The extension of part-time working to all ranks below ACPO was agreed.

Adult dependent pensions

4. A substantive response will be provided to the PNB in April. The official side recognised that changes need to be made to reflect today’s different social attitudes.

Maternity leave

5. A claim for 18 weeks paid maternity leave was presented by the Staff Side at the meeting. A response will be provided at the April PNB.

PNB Superintendents Committee

Police reform

6. Superintendents Committee considered that the heads of agreement did not appear to cover their rank. The Official Side would be willing to open discussions on a without prejudice basis.

Police Advisory Board

Substance misuse/screening policy

7. The Working Party on substance misuse and screening recommended testing be introduced in four categories - prospective recruits, post incident testing, specialist unit screening and with cause testing (ie testing when there is a justifiable reason). Further, the need for random testing should be reviewed after two years. The various police staff associations broadly supported this approach, although the Superintendents Association expressed their preference for the immediate introduction of random testing and the Federation wanted to ensure appropriate policies and occupational health support were in place before testing was introduced.

The difference in views was recorded and would be submitted to the Home Secretary.

Police conduct regulations

8. The main matter for discussion was the need for some rewording of the regulations around off duty conduct which is required to improve clarity and retain the spirit that off-duty behaviour is relevant. A draft form of words will be circulated for consideration in advance of the April PNB.

National recruitment standards - the removal of nationality requirements

9. The main issue concerned the restricting of foreign nationals from certain posts. Different views were expressed by the Official Side and the Federation, which would be reported to the Home Secretary.

Police attestation

10. A revised form of words for the declaration omitting the words ‘Our Sovereign Lady’ has been agreed in the light of the proposal to relax nationality requirements for appointment to a police force. However this will need to progressed by the Home Secretary.

Position on Heads of Agreement document

11. On 25 February the PNB discussed the Staff Side's rejection of the proposals set out in the Heads of Agreement document. In accordance with the PNB's constitution, the matter will now go to conciliation with a meeting fixed for 4 March. Another meeting of the Official Side of PNB has also been fixed, for 15 March, to discuss the progress of the conciliation. If conciliation fails to achieve agreement between the two Sides, the matter will have to go to formal arbitration. It is too early to say when a full arbitration hearing might be held.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications directly arising from this report, insofar that any individual developments will be the subject of further and separate reports, together with details of costs.

D. Background papers

None

E. Contact details

Report author: Chris Haselden, MPS, 020 7230 3094

For information contact:

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

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