11293 report 19 - CAIN - University of Ulster

management & personnelto massive organisational change and the introduction of new job functions across the PoliceService. Police managers recognised the need to sustain specialised capabilities in the areas mostaffected by change and attrition in order to avoid marked deficiencies in skills and experience.The Policing Board’s Human Resources Committee considered representations by the PoliceService in February of 2006 and accepted a proposal whereby the Police Service would continueto apply tenure principles, but not as strictly or comprehensively as previously envisioned. Tenurecontrols will continue to apply in specific areas including neighbourhood policing, criminalintelligence and training, on a managed basis.The original findings and recommendations of the Independent Commission on police officertenure remain consistent with good human resource practices, as supported by internationalpolicing authorities including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and HMIC; however,these accepted principles recognise the need to accommodate to local circumstances.Recommendation 84: Officers Injured on duty to be treated separately for sicknessrecordingPatten Recommendation:84. Officers injured on duty should be treated as a separate category for sickness recordingpurposes.Lead Responsibility: Chief Constable/Policing BoardRecommendation StatusCompliance with this recommendation has been achieved.HistoryA Managing Attendance policy was first introduced in 2001. In July of 2003 the Police Serviceissued three detailed general orders providing updated information and guidance to commanders,supervisors and staff on all features of the sickness absence policy. The devolved managementsystem provides a comprehensive break-out of all categories of sickness absence, including officersinjured on duty as a separate category. The directive establishing responsibility for reporting andrecording of sickness includes a requirement for the submission of medical certificates. TheAnnual Policing Plan (2007-2010) again contains reduction targets with regard to sickness absencesfor police and civilian staff.105