POLICE officers have hit out at plans to introduce chartered status to the role \u2013 which could cost more than \u00a3100 a year.<\/p>\n
Officers have been told they may have to pay a fee to do their job if proposals from the College of Policing come into being. Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, (pictured) said: \u201cWhat would officers be paying for? Police officers already know they are professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
The college has asked cops \u2013 as part of a consultation \u2013 whether they would be prepared to pay a subscription fee in return for a certificate giving them the authority to do their job.<\/p>\n
The suggestion is part of a move towards creating a more \u2018professional police\u2019 service and bringing the role more in line with chartered bodies such as lawyers and accountants. Members of these groups are asked to pay around \u00a3100 a year to maintain their chartered status.<\/p>\n
The results to the consultation are currently being analysed, and the college has said there are no plans \u201cat present\u201d to introduce the fee. Lord Stevens also mentioned a similar plan in his independent review of policing.<\/p>\n
However Bobbies on the Beat have been critical of the proposed move.<\/p>\n
A PC from Greater Manchester Police, who asked not to be named, said: \u201cI am going to be working longer to get less pension, have had several years of pay freezes and below inflation rises and pension contribution increases \u2013 and now they want more money out of my hard earned wage? I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
A PC from Surrey Police added: \u201cSurely this madness has got to stop? As far as I see, this government will not be satisfied until every officer in England and Wales is ex-public school with a millionaire\u2019s bank balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is stomach churning for the majority of us to have to watch the job we cherished, and were once proud of, reduced to a cash generator only accessible to the rich. I fear this will force many people to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Smith added: \u201cThe worrying thing is sooner or later they are going to charge as they have got to fund themselves\u2026 more than 50% of the funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve White, Vice-Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the staff association supported any measures aiming to further professionalise the service \u2013 but stressed that potential recruits should not deterred from applying for financial reasons.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cLikewise, existing officers should not face further financial burden.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a strategic intent document, the College stated: \u201cThere are no immediate plans to charge membership fees. However, we will explore all forms of membership, including voluntary subscriptions, as we develop our plans for the professional body.\u201d<\/p>\n
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