§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the minimum level of police cover allowed when overtime is managed down. [44025]
§ Mr. DenhamOn 9 May 2002, the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service. The PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions throughout the United Kingdom.
As part of a package of reforms, there will be a scheme to manage down overtime, with a service-wide target of a 15 per cent. reduction in the overtime bill over the three years from 2003–04. There will be local targets, taking account of force strength and effective management action already taken to manage down the overtime bill.
Achievement of the target will not be at the expense of police officer operational availability.
The scheme for managing down overtime will be complemented by the efficient and effective deployment of officers. The Inspectorate will monitor both the increased availability of officers for frontline duties and the managing down of overtime. Forces should be able to keep any savings achieved dependent on achieving improved visibility and availability, which will allow opportunities for increasing establishment or other initiatives designed to further improve visibility or availability.
The new pay and conditions package agreed on 9 May will provide a modernised pay structure rewarding those at the sharp end and reducing reliance on overtime. In so doing, it both underpins the rest of the police reform programme and demonstrates the Government's 56W commitment to invest in the police service to achieve the reforms needed and to give it the support and flexibility it requires to deliver a first-class service to the public.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the amount of premium pay for overtime and roster rest day working will be reduced; and what this figure is in cash terms. [44024]
§ Mr. John DenhamOn 9 May 2002, the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) agreed a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service. The PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions throughout the United Kingdom.
Under the PNB Agreement, the rates of premium pay for overtime and rostered rest days are not being reduced.
Under the Agreement, there will be a scheme to manage down overtime, with a service-wide target of a 15 per cent. reduction in the overtime bill over the three years from 2003–04.
Achievement of the target will not be at the expense of the police officer operational availability. The scheme for managing down overtime will be complemented by the efficient and effective deployment of officers. The Inspectorate will monitor both the increased availability of officers for frontline duties and the managing down of overtime. Forces should be able to keep any savings achieved, dependent on achieving improved visibility and availability, which will allow opportunities for increasing establishment or other initiatives designed to further improve visibility or availability.
The new pay and conditions package agreed on 9 May will provide a modernised pay structure rewarding those at the sharp end and reducing reliance on overtime. In so doing, it both underpins the rest of the police reform programme and demonstrates the Government's commitment to invest in the police service to achieve the reforms needed and to give it the support and flexibility it requires to deliver a first-class service to the public.