NATIONAL VIEW REGIONAL VIEW
LEGAL SERVICES NEGOTIATION INFLUENCING
REPRESENTATION
REGION 5 NEGOTIATION
Bedfordshire – Group Insurance Review Introduction
The Federation continually reviews the Group Insurance Scheme to ensure it provides value for money and essential benefits to members, especially given the spiralling cost of living. With some members reliant on food banks, it is imperative that the insurance scheme offers meaningful support rather than being seen as a luxury.
Description BACK TO NATIONAL VIEW South Eastern
The Group Insurance Scheme consolidates several essential services, including breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, life and critical illness insurance, GP24 access, and travel insurance. Individually, these services could cost members approximately £185 per month. For instance, mobile phone insurance alone costs £15 per month with providers such as EE. However, the Group Insurance Scheme offers all these benefits for just £33 per month, with family coverage included. This has been invaluable in supporting officers, reducing personal costs, and ensuring their availability on the front line by minimising absences due to preventable stresses.
Resolution
Currently, 98% of officers participate in the scheme, demonstrating its perceived value. Outcome
Numerous members have benefited from life and critical illness claims, either for themselves or their partners, significantly alleviating financial worries and enabling them to return to work with greater peace of mind.
Essex – Injury on Duty Award (IODA) Medical Reviews
Introduction
IODA recipients were required to attend medical reviews five years post-retirement, despite the force having destroyed their medical records under GDPR guidelines.
Description
With no baseline medical records available, the force attempted to conduct reviews on retired officers. The Federation argued that without these records, reviews were invalid, and the requirement imposed unnecessary stress on retirees.
Resolution
The Federation successfully challenged the force’s actions, negotiating the removal of the review requirement for these officers.
Outcome
The force conceded that reviews could not be conducted without the original medical records. As a result, retired officers were no longer subject to IODA reviews, relieving them of undue stress and ensuring compliance with GDPR and procedural fairness.
Essex – Recognition of Prior Service for Pay
Introduction In 2022, an officer rejoined Essex Police but was denied recognition of their prior service for pay purposes, resulting in placement at Pay Point 0.
Description
The officer, who had significant previous service, was reverted to Pay Point 0 upon rejoining, causing substantial financial losses. The Federation identified a misinterpretation of regulations by the force and initiated a challenge.
Resolution
Following the Federation’s intervention, the force acknowledged the error and adjusted the officer’s pay to Pay Point 7, accounting for their prior service.
Outcome
This adjustment saved the officer over £70,000 in potential lost income and set a precedent for accurate pay point calculations for rejoining officers.
BACK CONTINUED
Sussex – Compensatory Rest and Fatigue Management
Introduction
Officers in Sussex experienced regular breaches of Regulation 22, leading to the erosion of compensatory rest rights. Many officers were required to work extended hours and return to duty the following day, contributing to fatigue and avoidable mistakes, some of which resulted in misconduct proceedings.
Description
For years, Sussex Police failed to adhere to compensatory rest regulations, leaving officers without adequate recovery time between shifts. The Federation identified significant gaps in the force’s Working Time Agreement and Health and Safety compliance. Following legal advice, the Branch Secretary demonstrated to the force’s Health and Safety Team that these breaches violated both police regulations and legislation. The force sought its own legal advice but was unable to refute the Federation’s findings, necessitating reforms to safeguard officers’ welfare.
Resolution
The Federation used its position during workforce agreement negotiations to secure improved conditions for officers.
Outcome
Sussex Police agreed that all members were entitled to 11 hours of rest between shifts, regardless of overtime worked, with no impact on their duty patterns or requirement to use time off in lieu. This change has significantly improved officers’ wellbeing, ensuring Sussex Police now considers compensatory rest during planning to prevent fatigue.
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REGION 8
MEMBER VALUE REPORT
One Federation – Putting Members First
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