Our Ref: AFB/2009/00125 02 July 2009

Mr W Old

[email address]

Dear Mr Old,

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT Reference No F-2009-00125

I write in connection with reference to your letter requesting a review of Bedfordshire Police's response to your request for information dated 3^rd March 2009. You have asked us to review:

(a) any force policy or procedure document from which it would be determined whether such an officer's salary would take account of that previous period in the higher rank - in accordance with Reg.24(2) - or would alternatively be re-started back at the lowest salary scale point for the higher rank, at the commencement of each and every period of service in that higher rank; and...

(b) any force policy or procedure document that reported, considered or reviewed the implications of the decision in Gill v Chief Constable of Merseyside [Liverpool County Court, judgement given on 28 August 2007], in which unequivocal judgement was given against Merseyside Police by HH Judge Platts because the latter procedure (as referred to above) is unlawful and does not comply with Regulation 24(2).

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published, and therefore in the public domain without caveat.

Response - Please can I explain and bring you up to date with the ongoing matter relating to the state of the current Acting and Temporary Rank Policy. I can confirm that Bedfordshire Police still remains without a current policy in operation, with the previous policy declared obsolete in Feb 09 and therefore no longer in use. With regard the state of the new policy, this remains under review; although, I have been informed it should be available in the future.

However, in relation to your original request, Bedfordshire Police continue to operate with local procedures in place, which does recognise previous service in a higher rank relating to pay and increments, if promoted at a later date.

The reason for the ongoing delay is at National level where the Police Negotiation Board (PNB) together with several other authorities/agencies, one of which is the Home Office, remains in consultation and are seeking clarity regarding, among other things, issues of the reckoning of service in a higher rank.

I will of course keep you informed of the progress of this matter.

I hope this information and update proves useful.

Complaint Rights

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Kevin Sharp

Information Services Officer