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Controversy Erupts Over National Police Air Service | UK Police News - Police Oracle
Officers had to sign up to the new National Police Air Service (NPAS) before knowing the terms and conditions for their new roles, the Police Federation has said.
Andy Viney, Secretary of the Thames Valley branch of the staff association, said his force’s specialist air support officers did not have the full details of their new secondments in writing before the August 15 deadline to apply to join the NPAS, which launches on October 1 in the south east.
He said eight air helicopter officers in the force took “a leap of faith” in applying for the jobs before information such as a new shift pattern had been laid out in writing.
Mr Viney said questions remained over maternity leave, recuperative and restricted duties policies and whether officers will be eligible for the Winsor Expertise and Professional Accreditation Allowance - which is still being negotiated.
He said: “Would you apply for a job before you knew what the terms and conditions were? The reality is that these specialist officers were corralled into a decision with only half the information available to them.”
Officers who join the NPAS will remain with their home force but will be seconded to West Yorkshire Police, which will be the lead force for the new air service.
Mr Viney added: “When the terms and conditions are clearly set is when officers should have been applying for these roles and not before.”
An ACPO spokeswoman said the tight timescales for the creation of the NPAS meant the recruitment process had been hurried.
She said: “An advert for Tactical Flight Officers was released in July. The advert was accompanied by basic information relating to role profile and draft shift pattern plus other details.
“A secondment agreement, which is currently being considered by the national Police Federation, was not ready for publication at this time and will be made available to officers as soon as it has been approved.
“Part of the agreement, specifically that officers on secondment are subject to Police Regulations and remain officers of their own force, was made available.
“A completed application is not binding and can be withdrawn at any point.”