End urged to police 'bonus culture'

A delegation of police force leaders told the Tory Cabinet member that bonuses were not part of the country's "policing culture" and should be dumped.

They said the system of making special payments to all ranks was imposed on police despite concerns that private sector remuneration was not suitable for their unique role.

The bonus system was covered during a wide-ranging discussion between a handful of chief constables, the Home Secretary and Police Minister Nick Herbert yesterday.

Among those present were Humberside chief Tim Hollis, Thames Valley chief Sara Thornton, West Midlands chief Chris Sims and West Yorkshire Police chief Sir Norman Bettison.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), who attended the meeting, said bonuses had always been "anathema to policing".

He said: "There is a bigger debate here about the whole public sector. To deliver, the public sector needs to look at the whole reward structure.

"There are some unique things about policing. These guys work in imprecise environments, we rely on them to make split second decisions.

"That has got to be recognised, but we need to recognise it in a fair way."

He added: "Acpo recognises there is pressure on the public purse. It is about recognising professional working practices and rewards."

News of the meeting emerged after Scotland Yard chief Sir Paul Stephenson called for an end to bonus payments for all officers to repair public confidence.

Britain's most senior officer said the service was damaged by the bonus culture, it does not motivate police to work harder and warned the payments could be "divisive".

Prime Minister David Cameron moved to curb public spending by announcing an end to "crazy" performance-related pay for senior civil servants.

The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Paul McKeever, representing rank and file officers, said bonus payments had always been controversial.

He said the "time is right" for a review of all types of bonus for every level of officer.