Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
8.100 The MPS has told us that, although it accepts that its extensive policy review
programme might have compromised good consultation practice on occasion, late
consultation or too little time for responses is not the norm.
8.101 Whether or not this is the case, there is clearly room for improvement. The
MPS needs to recognise that consultation with appropriate representative bodies,
done well, can bring significant business and operational benefits, as it provides the
best route for achieving workable decisions and securing the ownership of officers
and staff to actions that are taken.
8.102 The MPS also needs to recognise that consultation undertaken in a halfhearted
way is likely to be counter-productive and send a negative message about
the way in which the views and input of officers, staff and their representatives are
valued by the organisation.
8.103 Seeking to consult late in the process inevitably means that those consulted
will have less chance of influencing the final decision. It also presents difficulties for
officers and staff who already have a busy schedule and are asked to respond to
lengthy policy documentation, effectively in their own time, within a matter of
hours. This is not only an additional pressure on the individuals concerned but
seems to send a message to the representative about the way in which their views
are valued by the organisation. It also means that it is unlikely that representatives
will be able to consult the people they represent about what is proposed.
8.104 These criticisms of consultation are perhaps another feature of the lack of
employment rights for police officers. Employers have had to create effective
consultation structures and mechanisms to meet their legal obligations to consult
their workforces. The police service has not had this pressure to the same extent as
other employers since only its police staff have such rights.
However, we have received evidence of best practice elsewhere:
“Generally consultation arrangements are good at both Force and Local Levels. All of the
Chief Officers and Area Command Teams operate a genuine “open door” policy and
encourage formal and informal discussions to resolve Force and Local Problems with
Federation Representatives. We take part in most Management Meetings and are routinely
consulted on Force Policy.”
(Paper from Merseyside Police Federation, submitted during Inquiry visit.)
The MPS should develop a similar relationship with its representative groups.
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