Union ‘deeply unhappy’ at policing cuts
● Uniformed officers ‘favoured over civilian staff’ as budgets are tightened
By CHRIS MARSHALL Home Affairs Correspondent into “back office” roles as cover. In an update to the Scottish Parliament’s justice subcommittee on policing, which meets tomorrow, Unison said its members had suffered as Police Scotland attempts to cut its budget deficit.
It said: “We are deeply unhappy with the resourcing of Police Scotland. It has been inadequate and both the public and our members have suffered. This lack of resourcing has been compounded by poor decision-making. It is the view of many Police Scotland staff that it is they who are paying for the deficit reduction plan currently being implemented. Policing comes at a cost and we never want that cost to be human life.”
It was announced last week that police officers would receive their biggest pay rise in more than 20 years, the equivalent of an additional £6,000 over the next two-and-a-half 0 David Page says Police Scotland will ‘invest in staff’
years for a mid-grade constable.
There are more than 5,500 members of police staff in Scotland, working in role such as call handlers, administrators and analysts.
Unison said: “Despite its infancy, Police Scotland has been encumbered with a history of poor choices and budgetary decisions from legacy forces.
“The bulk of these have been borne by Police Scotland staff and there is little in indications around funding that this situation is likely to change.
“The largest proportion of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority budget goes to the salaries of officers and staff.
“Whereas officers pay and terms are agreed nationally, staff have remained on their legacy force or interim terms and conditions for nearly six years. The staff pay and reward modernisation programme which seeks to address this is inhibited by a budget that favours the uniformed officer over the employee.”
Deputy Chief Officer David Page, the force’s most senior civilian, said the service’s longterm strategy would seek to address how it invests in both officers and staff.
He said: “We recognise, and share, the view that modernisation of pay and conditions is of central importance to the workforce, and significant progress has been made through negotiations to progress the staff pay and reward modersation project to conclusion.
“As this matter is ongoing it is not appropriate for the service to comment on specifics, The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has “huge transparency and accountability issues”, an MSP has said after discovering the organisation investigates complaints against itself – but cannot say how many there are.
Holyrood’s justice committee convener, Margaret Mitchell, said she was not aware the police oversight body could investigate itself and criticised its complaints head for not knowing how many of these complaints however, Police Scotland has worked hard to ensure that any negotiated offer is competitive, allowing us to continue to recruit and retain skilled staff across Scotland.
“Over and above the staff pay and reward modernisation project is our ten-year have been lodged. Lindsey Mcneill, SPA’S governance and assurance director, told the committee the authority deals with complaints against itself but said she did not “have the figures to hand” when asked how many are currently being investigated.
She also said the authority’s complaints and conduct committee had been re-established after being disbanded by the previous chairman Andrew Flanagan, with all complaints decisions taken by the then chief executive John Foley. strategy, Serving a Changing Scotland, which sets out our vision to meet the projected needs of our communities, and to enable the police service to become operationally and financially sustainable.”