NARPO call for Home Secretary’s resignation

At the Annual Conference of the National Association of Retired Police Officers over 300 delegates were made aware of the decision of the Home Secretary, Jackie Smith to impose a pay review body on the Police Service to replace the current police pay negotiating arrangements. NARPO delegates understood the frustrations of currently serving officers. They were short changed by the Home Secretary in last year’s pay settlement and her officials appear to have wanted to destroy any real opportunity of meaningful negotiations at the Police Negotiating Board for some time.

Delegates agreed to support the calls of the Police Federation to seek that Jackie Smith resign her post.

NARPO President Eric Evans MVO, QPM said ‘This is a disgraceful situation and one which risks a very serious breakdown in relationships between the Police and Government to the detriment of the general public. Following her failure to agree to pay police officers last year’s independent arbitration award, the Home Secretary now seeks to change the rules on pay negotiations in her favour. How can this help to repair the loss in trust that last year’s decision created? Her actions show that she has little regard for officers and that she should go.