Less than half of Fife Constabulary staff who applied for voluntary redundancy and early retirement have been successful in a process branded “a shambles”.
In a bid to cut costs, police staff were invited to put themselves forward for voluntary redundancy and early retirement ahead of April 1, when Scotland’s eight forces will merge to form the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
In all 120 employees registered an interest in leaving Fife Constabulary 49 of whom gained the support of the force.
The individuals were then provided with financial severance package estimates by members of Fife Council’s pension department, after which 30 staff members said they wished to proceed.
Estimated costs involved in granting voluntary redundancy and early retirement were drawn up by the local authority and then submitted to the SPA for final consideration, but it was announced at the police transition committee meeting at Fife House that the SPA was only prepared to grant 12 severance package applications.
Committee chairman Gavin Yates said he was at a loss to understand a process which has turned down 18 employee applications which had received backing from both Fife police and the council and added he planned to write to the SPA to express his concerns.
“I think this is a shambles to be honest. I just don’t understand it at all all this has done is raise the expectations of staff and then damn them.
“I have to say that the Scottish Government are not at fault here as they put £7 million into a pot for this purpose.
“Not only that but our staff knocked their pans in to submit accurate information and quotes to the SPA in relation to these individuals and it’s just not good enough for them to say that only 12 members of staff will now be allowed to leave.’’
Fife’s chief constable Andrew Barker and depute chief constable Tom Ewing, who are both to retire next month, also expressed disappointment about the decision.
Mr Ewing said: “I’m sad for the staff who are not being allowed to go as it was our wish that they should go, but we have no knowledge of the criteria the SPA used in reaching this decision.”
Mr Barker said: “I am also disappointed as it comes at a time when there is already a lack of clarity for what the future holds.”
For her part Cupar Councillor Karen Marjoram said: “A lot of employees will be disappointed and disheartened and could now be affected by redeployment, so I have concerns about that.’’
Vic Emery, chairman of the SPA, said: “The voluntary redundancy scheme is being run by existing employers, such as Fife police, as the Scottish Police Authority does not become the official employer until April 1 2013. However, the SPA HR working group did review the final shortlist of applicants so that the split of employees wanting to leave the organisation could be reviewed across Scotland, rather than on a force-by-force basis.”
“Our immediate priority is to ensure policing in Scotland is ready operationally, legally and financially for day one.
“The over-riding decision in this process was to ensure we have the people with the skills and expertise in place to provide the continuity of service for the public on day one and beyond. Anyone whose application was not accepted this time round is regarded as having a job which is vital to help the organisation deliver at this time.
“When the SPA and new single force come into formal operation on April 1 we will continue to review how policing is delivered across Scotland. There may be further opportunities to release employees.”