Pieman how long is the training course to be an air observer? How long does it take to train a Police Officer? Factor in the costs of the training and tell Unison that there is no equivalent job in the Police Service and " we will decide on the pay scale thank you for asking ".
Chief Officers have to account for the time spent by their Police Officers on a regular basis but do not have to do the same for civilian staf. No worries about downtime and inventing tasks to keep the notional time spent on the streets or in this case over the streets up to a reasonable level.
Well qualified Police Officers are in short supply if you believe what was reported by your Union/Federation at their recent conference so why not free another one up to Police and cover the job with a civilian.
As for pensions I belive that any person can pay into a pension and certainly Police Civilians are given the opportunity to do so.
As for 11% contributions do not bleat about it because the maximum that you could be made to pay is 15% and if the economy continues as it is then the call for 15% by Police Authorities may come sooner than you think.
As for your earlier post about employing a person and then he fails basic air observer training. I think your grasp as to what happens in the real word of employment is a little lacking. You fail you're out.
Another post from J2O suggests that he can see identify offences being committed from the air. Possibly driving offences but very little else. As I understand it the CPS ( a civilian operation ) actually tells you what to charge people with as Police have made so many mistakes in charging incorrectly in the past.
Budgie. Who did this meticulous study on civilian versus Police costs and what was their motivation for the study.
Get yourselves some real concrete evidence to support your jobs because the civies are coming boys.
PS looking at your address Letsby it would appear that you fall into the ethnic catergory.As for your other views I take it that Welsh Forces have not yet joined the 20th century yet let alone the 21st.