Inspectors call on police chiefs to tackle working conditions

IFSEC Insider

The research work was commissioned by the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Inspectors’ Central Committee, and the findings of the published report – entitled Time for Justice? – are so alarming and worrying that the Committee has written to the 43 chief constables across England and Wales imploring them to tackle the problems unearthed “before it’s too late”.

Alan Jones, chairman of the Inspectors’ Central Committee of the Police Federation of England and Wales, states that chief officers can no longer sit back and allow their officers to work themselves into the ground.

“We issued a stark warning to chief officers in 2007 when we released the Well-Being at Work survey where it was clear that inspectors were at risk of being over worked and on a downward health spiral. Unfortunately, the majority of chiefs chose to ignore our advice and now we are faced with a diminishing, tired workforce at the end of their tether.”

Jones added: “Chief inspectors and inspectors clearly have a strong commitment to their profession but the feedback suggests that mistakes are bound to happen due to long hours, fatigue and ill health caused by the stresses of the job. One of the most worrying points to emerge from the latest research is that inspectors feel they cannot bring their concerns to the attention of their chief officers because they’re afraid of being deemed weak or incapable.”

In a stark warning, he explained: “The police simply will not be able to maintain a high level of public service if the rank in charge of frontline officers is on the verge of collapse. Currently, inspectors are putting their job before themselves so it’s only a matter of time before disaster strikes.”

What the report’s authors say

The report’s authors conclude that the police service is “at a great risk” as a result of the pressures faced by the inspecting ranks.

Dr Victoria Wass outlined: “The feedback we received shows that the current workload of inspectors is not sustainable. Eventually there won’t be enough inspectors to manage the frontline.”

Co-author Professor Peter Turnbull asserted: “As working hours become increasingly onerous, sick leave due to stress and over-working increases and officers won’t be applying for promotion to the inspecting ranks. Who will perform the role of inspectors in future?”

Professor Turnbull continued: “With a decreasing, unhappy and dissatisfied workforce that’s understandably unable to cope with the demands being placed upon it, the quality of the service will only reduce and, ultimately, it is the public who will pay the price.”

Over 4,500 police inspectors took part in the online survey which was commissioned in response to the renewed pressures and increased workloads highlighted by the Comprehensive Spending Review against the backdrop of the Government’s imposed 20% cuts to policing.

The Inspectors’ Central Committee commissioned Cardiff Business School to undertake the survey. The objective was to provide an up-to-date assessment of the impact of budget cuts to policing.

The online survey was distributed to all 8,770 inspectors in England and Wales and included an hours’ diary for the reference week 24 January 2011. The survey received a response rate of 52 per cent with a total of 4,589 taking part.

Key findings outlined in the report

• Pressures on the police service from politicians and the public have intensified in recent years, especially under the coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and the mantra of ‘more for less’.
• The inspecting ranks have experienced a disproportionate reduction in personnel in recent years and more responsibilities have been cascaded down the ranks to this critical level, placing additional strains on two already stretched ranks.
• Long working hours have always been a feature of police work, creating growing concerns about the impact of excessive and unpredictable hours of work on the health of individual Inspectors, the strains this can impose on family life and work-life balance and the adverse effects this has on the efficiency and effectiveness of the police service.
• While inspectors willingly reported their ill-health in response to the ICC surveys, they are reluctant to raise any concerns with their employer or indeed refuse to work excessive hours. Many more are resigned to the fact that senior managers will not listen or don’t care.
• Female inspectors in general and part-time female inspectors in particular find it particularly difficult to achieve an appropriate work-life balance within the ispecting ranks.
• Overtime pay was ‘bought out’ of inspectors’ contracts in 1994, which creates additional health risks as workers who must endure compulsory and unremunerated overtime are far more likely to experience ‘occupational burn out’.
• Police inspectors regularly work in excess of the 48 hours limit specified in the Working Time Regulations. One-in-four inspectors in England and Wales reported working more than 48 hours in the reference week and one-in-ten reported working more than 56 hours. In Scotland, one-in-four reported working in excess of 52 hours in the reference week and one-in-ten reported working over 60 hours.
• There is often no accurate record of police inspectors’ hours and there is currently no incentive for either the employer or the inspector to keep a systematic record.
• Nearly 44% of police inspectors in England and Wales, and over 38 per cent in Scotland, reported ill-health which they attributed to long hours of work. The majority – 53% in England and Wales and 57% in Scotland – reported that long working hours had an adverse effect on family relationships.

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