What's New
POLICE NEGOTIATING BOARD HISTORY
The Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom (PNB) is the result of over 80 years of change and refinement to the way police pay and conditions are determined. Currently, minor changes to the Constitution of the PNB are being considered but it is supported by both the Official and Staff Sides as the best possible model. A brief history of the Police Negotiating machinery is as follows:-
1919 - Desborough Committee Report
Recommended the setting up of a joint central committee for Great Britain. This recommendation was not taken up; separate Police Councils for Scotland and England were established and sat independently even when alterations in standard conditions were discussed.
1949 - Oaksey Committee Report
Agreed that main conditions of service of the police should continue to be the same in Scotland as in England and Wales. It recommended establishing a Police Council for Great Britain for negotiable matters, together with separate Police Advisory Boards for Scotland and England and Wales.
1953
The Police Council for Great Britain was eventually set up, and its first meeting was held on 26 November 1953. However, the new body was introduced on a non-statutory basis, as a "temporary expedient", due, according to the then Home Secretary to "the difficulty of obtaining Parliamentary time for legislation." The new negotiating body was notified to police authorities and chief constables via Home Office Circular 172/1953.
Due to the new body's non-statutory nature, the separate (statutory) Police Councils for England and Wales and Scotland continued to sit in order to ratify draft regulations implementing agreements reached in the new non-statutory Police Council for Great Britain.
1965
In spite of its temporary nature, the non-statutory Police Council for Great Britain continued until 17 March 1965, when its last meeting was held. The transfer of the Council to a statutory basis took effect on 1 April 1965 under Section 45 of the Police Act 1964.
1969 - Hunt Committee Report
Set up to consider and advise on police in Northern Ireland, it recommended a reorganisation of the Central Representative Body and its association with representative organisations in Great Britain, together with a statutory right to take part in negotiations.
1970
On 29 July 1970 the Police Council for Great Britain was dissolved and the Police Council for the United Kingdom was inaugurated, having been established under Section 4 of the Police Act 1969. The only difference between the two Councils was the inclusion of Northern Ireland.
1978 - Edmund-Davies Committee Report
Recommended a new negotiating body be set up as soon as the new constitution was agreed and without waiting for legislation to be passed, the "cornerstone" of which to be an independent secretariat.
1979
The new Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom held its first meeting on 16 August 1979.
1980
Statutory effect given to the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom under the Police Negotiating Board Act 1980.
