Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
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UNISON Response

Police Staff to Welsh Assembly Government -

Social Justice and Regeneration Committee

Restructuring of Constabulary - Cymru/Wales

1. UNISON welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation by the Welsh Assembly Government on the HMIC report Closing the Gap.

2 UNISON National Police Service Group has responded directly to the HMIC report to the Home Office in September 2005 outlining a number of concerns which effect our members, Police Staff as follows:-

    • Protection of Services and Jobs
    • Enhancement of the local accountability of Police Authorities through better connection with the communities they serve.
    • Full involvement of UNISON as a stakeholder in the consultation process
    • An acknowledgement from the Government that reorganisation is costly (concern from UNISON is expressed regarding the eventual knock on effect of the costs of reorganisation being borne by the people of Wales through the Local Authority costs).
    • A commitment to use reorganisation to further the Police Force Modernisation Programme and built Force capacity.
    • Early confirmation of the legal position regarding TUPE and the applicability of the Code of Practice for staff transfers in the Public Sector.
    • Establishment of a Statutory Staff Commission to handle the staffing and HR/IR issues arising from reorganisation.
    • Home Office acknowledgement of its social responsibility to protect staff interests.

3. UNISON Cymru/Wales Police Service Group have also expressed concerns regarding the time scale imposed by the HMIC, with in our view, a sense of haste appears to emerge, with timescales being unrealistic to have an effective consultation with all stakeholders.

4. In the event of any decisions to have a restructuring of force(s) in Wales UNISON have indicated to the employers through the joint discussions that opportunities should exist to enhance the service provided by the Welsh Forces and to use the same opportunities to ensure staff are treated equitably during the process.

5. The staff have expressed concern regarding the cost of the proposals. If early release of information is to be believed, it appears the figures of

£47-57million is the starting figure.

A few of the many questions that this raises:-

Where is this money coming from?

What funding is being made available from Central Government and is the funding conditional?

6. Will the Welsh Assembly Government be making representations to the Home Office to ensure that people of Wales will not be expected to pay for this proposal?

7. UNISON also calls on both the Home Office and the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that any changes in the current structures should be used to deal with the issues of Common Pay, Terms and Conditions which includes the matter of Equal Pay, an issue which has been outstanding in the four Forces for some considerable time.

8. UNISON has called for an establishment of a Statutory Staff Commission which would deal with all staffing issues on a National basis. However, there is also the desire to enhance any such commission by having a mirror arrangement for Wales.

9. UNISON is committed to working with the Chief Officers and Police Authorities to ensure that any transitional arrangements work as smoothly as possible.

Jean Brady

Regional Head of Police 14 November 2005