Watchdog rejects bid for fewer top police
8:30am Sunday 19th February 2012 in News
CONTROVERSIAL plans to get rid of some of Bolton’s most experienced police officers have been unanimously rejected by the police watchdog.
Greater Manchester Police Authority had been in favour of invoking regulation A19 of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 — but yesterday dismissed the idea.
If used, the regulation would have allowed the force to make officers with more than 30 years’ experience redundant — an exception to the current law which means it is not possible to make police officers redundant.
GMPA chairman Cllr Paul Murphy said: “This has been a challenging issue for the police authority.
“We have scrutinised the proposals put forward by the force, considered the findings from the consultation and listened to the concerns raised by the Police Federation and Superintendent’s Association, to ensure we carry out a detailed and informed debate and involve all members in the decision.”
He said it would be premature to use A19 when there are still national uncertainties surrounding the “policing landscape”.
Use of the regulation has been on the cards for months but has been hit by numerous delays because of ongoing national negotiations involving the Police Federation, the Superintendents’ Association and the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association about pay and conditions.
Cllr Murphy said: “Some difficult decisions have, and will, be made and we don’t underestimate the impact this has on staff and officers.
Their welfare is of paramount importance and we will continue to work with the force to support them.”
GMPA’s members voted unanimously in favour of not using A19.
Greater Manchester Police needs to cut £134 million from its budget over the next four years, which will result in the axing of 3,000 posts, including 1,400 officers.
It was estimated across the force 230 officers would have been affected by the A19 regulation in 2011/12, and 757 would have been affected over the next four years.
