Avon and Somerset Police Federation

This PAT is much
more than soap opera

It is likely that PAT will be on every officer’s lips. Not the decision of Pat Butcher of EastEnders fame to deprive us of her gaudy makeup and dangly earrings and leave the soap, but a much more serious real-life debacle involving the PAT or Police Arbitration Tribunal. After protracted arguments from both sides of the Police Negotiating Board over recommendations made in the Winsor Part 1 report – which impacts on police officers pay and conditions – the fight finally had to go to the PAT. The decision on those recommendations was published this month.

There will be some who view the dramatic arguments, strained relations and disappointment as echoing the storyline of a soap. The strength of feeling from officers around the country has been palpable as many could find themselves losing out on thousands of pounds. There are those who have accused the Federation of not being worth the subs they pay, being a ‘toothless tiger’ or rolling over when put under pressure from the government. The truth is that a great deal of work has gone into fighting for the best deal for police officers when the government is pushing the line that it’s all about the police taking their share of the cuts in a difficult economic climate. Indeed, without representation on the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board ‘negotiating’ and fighting the corner for officers, the Federation believes all of Winsor’s recommendations would have been foisted upon the service.

You will be aware that the Government established a review of Police terms and conditions and appointed the former rail regulator, Tom Winsor, to head up this review.  The review was split into two parts with the first report delivered in March 2011 and the second part due imminently.

On receipt of part one of Winsor's report the Home Secretary passed the recommendations to the Police Negotiating Board for 'negotiation'.  Unfortunately it became apparent that the official side's negotiating position was intransigent.  Staff side tabled an alternative proposal which would have delivered similar savings without the disproportionate financial detriment proposed by the Winsor review team.  This proposal was rejected and the two sides failed to agree so the recommendations were sent to the Police Arbitration tribunal for decision.

The staff side certainly had no desire to go to arbitration because whilst both sides submit evidence to support their position matters are effectively taken out of either sides hands but in the absence of any apparent flexibility from the official side there was no alternative but to fail to agree.

The outcome of the Police Arbitration tribunal was received yesterday and I have below outlined the outcome for your information.  The tribunal has modified a number of the original proposals to the benefit of members and accordingly given the only alternative offered was the original raft of proposals then the decision to go to arbitration appears to have been the correct one.  The retention of casual overtime premium is good news as is the retention of CRTP for those who are in receipt of it.  There has been improvements to the original mutual aid recompense which goes someway to mitigate against the loss of the Hertfordshire agreement.  The introduction of an unsocial hour payment has long been desired by many members and as such will no doubt be welcomed by many.