What's New

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill Amendment

On 20th April the House of Lords passed the following amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which would make it a requirement that a parliamentary vote be conducted should the Home Secretary decide to overturn a Police Arbitration Tribunal decision in the future. The amendment also covers the same for prison officers.

Police and prison service pay: Secretary of State's power to make regulations

Insert the following new Clause -

"Police and prison service pay; Secretary of State's power to make regulations

Regulations made by the Secretary of State -

1. Specified in section 62 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) (functions of the board with respect to regulations) which do not follow the recommendations of the Police Negotiation Board as established by section 16 of that Act, or

2. under section 128 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33) (pay and related conditions) which do not follow the recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Board as established by that section,

   may not be made until laid before, and approved by resolution of, the House of Commons"

Whilst the wording of the amendment does not automatically mean a decision of independent arbiters will be honoured, it is a significant step forward from the current establishment where the sole decision maker is the Home Secretary.

Stevie McCann
Secretary
PFNI