Minister explains reforms to policing
Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert has written to officers to set out the government鈥檚 agenda for policing.
Policing and Criminal Justice Minister Nick Herbert has written to officers across England and Wales ahead of the Police Federation march in London to set out the government鈥檚 agenda for policing.
He outlines the government鈥檚 support for police officers and sets out plans for the creation of a Police Professional Body to ensure that officers have the right skills and training for the future.聽He also reminds officers of the work the Government has done to end centralised targets, cut bureaucracy and restore discretion.
On changes to pay and conditions, he states that it is right in principle to reward officers for the job they do and the skills they have rather than time served. But he emphasises that the government will take great care to ensure that police officers are fairly treated.
Mr Herbert said: 鈥楢s a service spending some 拢14 billion a year it is right for the police to make their contribution to reducing the record budget deficit.聽
鈥楬er Majesty鈥檚 Inspectorate of Constabulary has set out that forces can make savings of over 拢1 billion a year while maintaining the service to the public.聽The two-year pay freeze and better procurement will help to make further savings.
鈥楨xisting police pay and conditions were designed more than 30 years ago which is why we asked Tom Winsor to carry out his independent review based on the principle that pay should reflect an officer鈥檚 job, skills and hard work, rather than simply time served.聽These changes are currently subject to formal negotiations.
鈥楾he pay freeze and pension changes are applying across the public sector, but we will continue to ensure that police officers are rewarded for the exceptional job they do.鈥�
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