Met police firearms

[Techie1 + 2,024]

Minister hints at better resourcing and pay.

The government listens to the service and is keen to help officers, the Policing Minister says.

Addressing the Police Superintendents’ Association Conference today, Nick Hurd said pay and resource complaints are being listened to.

After beginning his speech apologising for the non-appearance of Home Secretary Amber Rudd, he addressed a number of topics including resourcing.

On pay, he said: “We’re not deaf, even if we sometimes give the impression that we are.

“The message we have heard very clear and constant is about stretch and strain and the pressure experienced police officers telling me they haven’t worked under these conditions before.

“I’m standing here as a representative of the government who’s profoundly aware that police officers and a number of others have had to take their share of the burden […].

“There’s a limit to what we can reasonably ask of people.”

But he added that there is “considerable concern being expressed by employers” about “sustainability”, which is why there has been a delay so far. He said there will be an announcement on pay imminently.

Candid conversations about budgets will soon be held, he said, and hinted he will make some forces spend their reserves.

PSAEW president Chief Supt Gavin Thomas had earlier called for a pay rise and for better resourcing.

Mr Hurdalso promised a thorough review of resources and budgets, and other areas such as morale which he wrote to chief constables and police and crime commissioners about today. He said such a body of work had never been done before, and will shape the 2018/19 budget with an evidence base.

Elsewhere he promised a total of £60 million funding for several projects, including funding for certain forces.

His speech coincided with the announcement of a number of successful bids to the police transformation fund including a pilot to roll out video evidence in courts, £6 million to help digital policing in Cheshire, Essex, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Merseyside and £23 million over the next three years for the NCA, Regional Organised Crime Units, and some police forces to detect, monitor and disrupt organised crime groups.

Responding to the funding announcements, Paddy Tipping, chairman of the Association of PCCs said: "The £60 million funding package announced by the minister will be invested across our regions and in local forces to ensure that our police can respond to the range of threats which pose harm to our communities.

"This funding covers programmes that use innovative ways to keep our communities safe, by investing in digital policing methods and effective local partnerships to combat serious and organised crime, whilst protecting the most vulnerable members of our society."

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[Cathedral Bobby + 1,174]

And what does he say about those officers working response, the ones who come into contact most with the public, NOWT. But let's be thankful for the £60 million trop in the ocean.

[SimonT + 1,185]

What a lot of words. It's so exciting to read words. Unfortunately these words are pretty much pointless. 

But certainly numerous. 

[Cathedral Bobby + 1,174]

Empty rhetoric. The treatment of the police service, no contempt this government has is astonishing. They don't even bother to make up excuses anymore.

[HazRat 762]

I'll b extremely surprised if the imminent pay announcement exceeds 1%. As it stands pay will not increase for the public sector until April 2018. Even then it won't be the huge percentage that people think. It certainly won't make up for the thousands that we've lost out on or kissed goodbye to in the form cost of living rises and increased pension contributions.

[Cathedral Bobby + 1,174]

10 minutes ago, HazRat said:

I'll b extremely surprised if the imminent pay announcement exceeds 1%. As it stands pay will not increase for the public sector until April 2018. Even then it won't be the huge percentage that people think. It certainly won't make up for the thousands that we've lost out on or kissed goodbye to in the form cost of living rises and increased pension contributions.

Not to mention inflation is above three percent and expected to remain so for most of the next year. So long as the MPs, bless them get theirs.

[HazRat 762]

6 minutes ago, Cathedral Bobby said:

Not to mention inflation is above three percent and expected to remain so for most of the next year. So long as the MPs, bless them get theirs.

Aye. We're all in it together!

[Mac7 808]

"There's a limit to what we can reasonably ask of people." Words certainly not echoed by the IPCC, media etc.

The government just don't get it do they? £60million for "projects" that have no benefit to the front line of policing. Digital evidence in courts has been piloted in some forces last year. On the face of it, it was a good idea but turned out to be a disaster and cost a fortune. It's wasn't long before it was abandoned.

The police need resources - Human Resources and investment in the front line. Not money for wishy washy projects.

[James255 + 26]

6 hours ago, Mac7 said:

"There's a limit to what we can reasonably ask of people." Words certainly not echoed by the IPCC, media etc.

The government just don't get it do they? £60million for "projects" that have no benefit to the front line of policing. Digital evidence in courts has been piloted in some forces last year. On the face of it, it was a good idea but turned out to be a disaster and cost a fortune. It's wasn't long before it was abandoned.

The police need resources - Human Resources and investment in the front line. Not money for wishy washy projects.

Police officers still give evidence via video link in an East Midlands force and they were rapidly expanding it before the announcement. It seems to be successful. 

[SimonT + 1,185]

We are expanding ours, that doesn't mean it works. Half the time you can see the court building from the station but can't just go over, you must use the technology. Of course if you can't get anyone at the court to answer the phone then it's a bit pointless. 

A better advancement would be to stop pointless court calls. 

[obsidian_eclipse + 1,202]

We are expanding ours, that doesn't mean it works. Half the time you can see the court building from the station but can't just go over, you must use the technology. Of course if you can't get anyone at the court to answer the phone then it's a bit pointless. 
A better advancement would be to stop pointless court calls. 

I'd prefer to give evidence in person to be fair. I can understand some places don't have a court as close as say where I am (it's barely half a mile away).

The problem with 'projects' alot of the time is that £60m easily gets swallowed up. A fair chunk of which will likely dissappear into research and consultancy. I wouldnt like to hazard a guess, maybe it's my own scepticism, but it wouldn't surprise me greatly if it's to feed the gravy train and other business interests rather than to actually make a difference to policing.

[Mac7 808]

£60 million for projects or extra cops?

I'll take the extra cops.