§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of service was for a(a) policewoman and (b) policeman in England and Wales in the latest year for which figures are available. [50682]
§ Mr. DenhamThe latest figures available are for March 2000 and they are set out in the table.
The lower average length of service for women officers in part reflects the increase in recent years in the number and proportion of women in the police service from 14,496 female officers (11.6 per cent. of strength) in 1990 to 21,800 (17.4 per cent. of strength) by September 2001.
However, the rate of voluntary resignation by women is higher than the rate for men and this also contributes to the shorter average length of service.
As part of the Dismantling Barriers initiative, we have asked forces to carry out externally audited exit interviews with departing staff to build a picture of why those leaving have decided to do so, and identify where changes might help retain staff.
We are liaising with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Work/Life Balance Team to determine how the Home Office can assist forces in using flexible working.
A research project into the retention of policy officers is under way, to inform the development of effective and practical approaches by forces to improve the retention of police officers. The focus of the research is on those forces identified as having high or increasing levels of resignations and among those groups of officers (including women officers) that have disproportionately high levels of resignations.
1046W
Mean average length of service in years for female and male police officers March 20001,2 Mean Female officers (0–30 years' service only3) 9.7 All female officers (includes over 30 years' service3) 9.7
Mean average length of service in years for female and male police officers March 20001,2 Mean Male officers (0–30 years' service only3) 14.6 All male officers (includes over 30 years' service3) 15.0 1Source—Dismantling Barriers monitoring return March 2002.
2Individual officers' length of service is not available centrally. These figures are calculated from aggregate returns showing the total number of officers in each year of service and are therefore approximate.
3Two figures are shown. The standard period of service 30 years, although some officers elect to serve beyond this, with the agreement of their chief constable. The first figure is therefore the average for officers who have 0–30 years' service. The second figure includes officers who have over 30 years' service. There are very few female officers with over 30 years' service, so the average length of service does not increase if they are included, where it does for male officers.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans he has in place should the police work to rule, ban overtime or strike. [38817]
§ Mr. DenhamPolice officers do not have the right to strike. Under section 91 of the Police Act 1996, it is a criminal offence for anyone to cause disaffection among police officers or to induce any police officer to withhold his services. Police officers are under a duty to carry out all lawful orders, so would have to work overtime if required to do so.
On 9 May, we reached agreement in the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) on a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service. PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions of service, on which all the main police organisations are represented, including the Police Federation, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities. The PNB was, in part, set up to compensate for police officers not having the right to strike. Due process was followed throughout the negotiations leading up to the Agreement on 9 May.