NCJ Number
51439
Journal
Police Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 30,32,34
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
INVOLVEMENT OF ENGLAND'S POLICE FORCE MEMBERS IN LOCAL NEGOTIATION, CONSULTATION, AND ARBITRATION IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF POLICE FEDERATION REGULATIONS.
Abstract
AS SPECIFIED IN THE REGULATIONS, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF A BRANCH BOARD IS TO REPRESENT EFFECTIVELY THE INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS BY WHOM IT IS ELECTED. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE OFFICER AS AN EMPLOYEE AND THOSE CONCERNED WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICE SERVICE DIFFERS IN CERTAIN CRUCIAL RESPECTS FROM MANAGEMENT-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS IN CIVILIAN OCCUPATIONS. POLICE FORCE MEMBERS SERVE UNDER A CODE OF DISCIPLINE AND ARE OBLIGED TO OBEY ANY LAWFUL ORDER GIVEN BY A SUPERIOR. CHIEF OFFICERS AND PERSONS WITH MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, THEREFORE, IN A UNIQUE POSITION IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY. THIS POSITION LIMITS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BRANCH BOARD. SOME BRANCH BOARDS HAVE SOUGHT COURT REMEDIES. COURT DECISIONS HAVE HINGED ON THE CORRECT LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF THE POLICE FEDERATION REGULATIONS, AND COURTS WILL NOT INTERVENE UNLESS THEY ARE SATISFIED THAT THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN BREACHED. ONE OF THE REGULATIONS MAKES REFERENCE TO INFORMAL CONSULTATION, IN RECOGNITION OF THE WELL-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF ORAL CONSULTATION BETWEEN BRANCH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND CHIEF OFFICERS. THE STRONGEST INFLUENCE ACTING TO PREVENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE EFFECTIVE LOCAL REPRESENTATION FOR POLICE FORCE MEMBERS IS THE NATURE OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE POLICE SERVICE, WITH MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TRANSLATED TO SUBORDINATES AS ORDERS. A JOINT NEGOTIATING AND CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF BRANCH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND CHIEF OFFICIALS, IS PROPOSED. IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE TO REACH CONSENSUS ON NEGOTIABLE MATTERS, ARBITRATION IS RECOMMENDED. (DEP)