Police Pay And Conditions Review Launched

The most comprehensive review of police pay and conditions in more than 30 years has been launched by the government to improve service for the public and maximise value for money.

The independent study, announced by Home Secretary Theresa May, will help bring modern management practices into policing and increase operational flexibility for the country’s 43 territorial forces.

Former Rail Regulator Tom Winsor will head the review, supported by professional advice from former West Midlands Chief Constable Sir Edward Crew and leading labour market economist Professor Richard Disney.

The review will report to the Home Secretary in two parts, the first on short-term improvements to the service in February 2011 and the second on matters of longer-term reform in June 2011. It will operate with three key objectives, laid out by the Home Secretary:

• Use remuneration and conditions of service to maximise officer and staff deployment to frontline roles where their powers and skills are required
• To provide remuneration and conditions of service that are fair to, and reasonable for, both the taxpayer and police officers and staff

• To enable modern management practices in line with practices elsewhere in the public sector and the wider economy

The Home Secretary said: “It is vital we have a modern and flexible police service to meet the ever-changing demands placed upon it.

“By bringing modern management practices to the police, this review will help ensure chief constables can deliver the frontline services people want, while providing the value for money that is so vital in the tough economic times we face.”

Tom Winsor commented: “I am very pleased to accept the Home Secretary’s invitation to lead this review. I look forward to working alongside police officers and their representatives, and others, as they strive to ready the police service for the challenges ahead.

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(BMcN/KMcA)