Bonuses may not help Detective retention issue

DETECTIVES say they are underpaid for the work they do – however, offering bonuses may not be the answer according to Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor.

A recent Police Chiefs survey revealed the vast majority of detectives interviewed felt inadequately rewarded. Many respondents believe the issue is leaving teams under-staffed with some reporting that uniformed PCs are increasingly investigating complex cases, due to a lack of CID capacity.

As a solution, more than 77% of Detectives see offering bonuses as a great way to encourage more people into the role, particularly to help fill hard-to-recruit-for vacancies, reports Police Oracle.

Bonuses of up to £4,000 a year could be offered as part of the plan by Chief Constables to arrest the decline, although they could only be used in ͚exceptional͛ cases.

However, Essex Federation Chairman Steve Taylor says he’s worried the idea may be counter-productive.

“The detective cadre is very important and we need officers to come forward who are motivated to progress in that world and give us those really important detective skills,” he says.

“But as always in policing, I don’t think financial reward should be the first tool in the box when it comes to increasing the numbers of detectives.”

A bonus scheme for firearms officers is something which already exists in the Essex force. However, Steve believes it’s paving the way for targeted pay.

“My feeling is that it will take away more than it offers. We know targeted pay is the direction the organisation is heading towards, but we don’t have to take it on board.

“There are so few of us having to do far more, more of us are crossing boundaries, doing more work rather than just in our area – to just reward others for doing the same job as me for instance just because of the title I hold is, I think, counter-productive.”