Police Federation for Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) is the representative
body to which all members of the Police Service
of Northern Ireland
belong up to and including the rank of Chief Inspector
, as well as the ranks of reserve and part-time officers. The federation was established on 15 July 1971 as a result of the Police Act (NI) 1970. There are 7,500 members as of March 2010 according to their website and the current chairman is Terry Spence.
The make-up of the federation is designed with similarity to political constituency. Representatives are provided for five larger regional divisions and various districts within. A fixed number of representatives are allocated to each district and to each region with a predetermined percentage within the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector and part-time officer. Only four of the regions are based on the geography of Northern Ireland with Region 5 being dedicated to officers of Training Branch, Road Policing, Urban Region TSG, Head Quarters, and Crime Operations. Regions 1 to 4 are allocated representation on an equal basis of region, district and officer count whereas Region 5 has additional allocation rules based on each department. Region 1 is based exclusively in the Greater Belfast
area with four districts. Region 2 covers the south east and is divided into eight districts. Region 3 covers the west and is divided into eight districts. Region 4 covers the north and is divided into nine districts. Meetings take place on six obligatory occasions each year with further meetings occurring upon approval. The federation votes internally to elect a Central Committee comprising 10 constables, 5 sergeants, 3 inspectors and one part-time officer. The Central Committee then elects four full time officials from its members. These positions include Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer. Federation offices are based in Garnerville and positions are open to election once every three years.
The federation seeks to provide "Welfare and Efficiency" for the police service with its main activities performed in maintaining the RUC Benevolent Fund and providing legal advice. Representatives meet the Secretary of State
, the Northern Ireland Office
, and the Security Minister regularly as well as the occasional meet with the Prime Minister
. Negotiations involve pay, pensions, and general conditions as well as consultation on all levels of service within the PSNI. The federation is a member of the Luxembourg
based European Confederation of Police
(EUROCOP) which serves as a go-between for the European Parliament
and forum for matters of mutual concern including terrorism
, pay and working conditions. Representatives also attend conferences regularly in the United Kingdom
, United States of America, and Republic of Ireland
including the International Law Enforcement Committee.
Annual reports are produced as well as various reports and press releases, much like news reports.
Obligations fall under five general categories, General Services, Health & Safety, Health Services, PFNI Applications, and Travel Services. These services branch out as the provision of, General Services: Police Treatment Centers, Credit Union, Discipline Coordination, Police Federation Lottery, Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust, Retired Members Card, Benefits Scheme, and RUC Benevolent Fund, Health & Safety: Health & Safety Role, Legislation information, and Appeal Boards, Health Services: BUPA Dental Plan, Critical Illness Plan, and Private Health Scheme, PFNI Applications: Legal Advice Applications, and Lottery Funding Applications, Travel Services: Family Travel insurance, Hotelshop, and Stenaline special rates.
The federation represents the police service on a similar basis to that of a trade union
although the police force has no legal right to some civil actions such as a strike action
.
In 1999, in response to the Patton Report, the federation produced a statement supporting radical changes to facilitate peace. With a view to recruiting Catholics for the police force, the statement suggested voluntary severance to make jobs available. It went on to plea for extra investment in constable and sergeant training and promised that, the then Royal Ulster Constabulary
, had changed and was committed to evolving to meet demands and standards. The statement expressed opposition to changing the name of the police service, now the Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI) as a proud tradition and memorial to those officers injured or killed in connection with The Troubles, as well as opposition to changing the dark green uniform or symbols of harp and crown as representative of either community. Other views expressed the preference for neutral working areas, to be an unarmed force (in common with the Garda Síochána
and UK Police in Britain
), freedom from political direction, that accepting former paramilitaries or terrorists into the police is unacceptable and that a divided police force was unfeasible within such a small population.
Representation (politics)
In politics, representation describes how some individuals stand in for others or a group of others, for a certain time period. Representation usually refers to representative democracies, where elected officials nominally speak for their constituents in the legislature...
body to which all members of the Police Service
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
belong up to and including the rank of Chief Inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
, as well as the ranks of reserve and part-time officers. The federation was established on 15 July 1971 as a result of the Police Act (NI) 1970. There are 7,500 members as of March 2010 according to their website and the current chairman is Terry Spence.
The make-up of the federation is designed with similarity to political constituency. Representatives are provided for five larger regional divisions and various districts within. A fixed number of representatives are allocated to each district and to each region with a predetermined percentage within the ranks of constable, sergeant, inspector and part-time officer. Only four of the regions are based on the geography of Northern Ireland with Region 5 being dedicated to officers of Training Branch, Road Policing, Urban Region TSG, Head Quarters, and Crime Operations. Regions 1 to 4 are allocated representation on an equal basis of region, district and officer count whereas Region 5 has additional allocation rules based on each department. Region 1 is based exclusively in the Greater Belfast
Greater Belfast
Greater Belfast is an area surrounding and including Belfast in Northern Ireland.It includes Belfast and parts of the North Down, Lisburn, Castlereagh and Newtownabbey district council areas. Greater Belfast is the largest urban area in Northern Ireland, and second largest in Ireland...
area with four districts. Region 2 covers the south east and is divided into eight districts. Region 3 covers the west and is divided into eight districts. Region 4 covers the north and is divided into nine districts. Meetings take place on six obligatory occasions each year with further meetings occurring upon approval. The federation votes internally to elect a Central Committee comprising 10 constables, 5 sergeants, 3 inspectors and one part-time officer. The Central Committee then elects four full time officials from its members. These positions include Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Treasurer. Federation offices are based in Garnerville and positions are open to election once every three years.
The federation seeks to provide "Welfare and Efficiency" for the police service with its main activities performed in maintaining the RUC Benevolent Fund and providing legal advice. Representatives meet the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
, the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
, and the Security Minister regularly as well as the occasional meet with the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. Negotiations involve pay, pensions, and general conditions as well as consultation on all levels of service within the PSNI. The federation is a member of the Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
based European Confederation of Police
European Confederation of Police
The European Confederation of Police is the umbrella organization of 33 trade unions from 26 European countries, which represent a total of more than 500,000 police officers. It was founded in 2002 at a conference in Roskilde, Denmark, emerging from the Union Internationale des Syndicats de Police...
(EUROCOP) which serves as a go-between for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and forum for matters of mutual concern including terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, pay and working conditions. Representatives also attend conferences regularly in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, United States of America, and Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
including the International Law Enforcement Committee.
Annual reports are produced as well as various reports and press releases, much like news reports.
Obligations fall under five general categories, General Services, Health & Safety, Health Services, PFNI Applications, and Travel Services. These services branch out as the provision of, General Services: Police Treatment Centers, Credit Union, Discipline Coordination, Police Federation Lottery, Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust, Retired Members Card, Benefits Scheme, and RUC Benevolent Fund, Health & Safety: Health & Safety Role, Legislation information, and Appeal Boards, Health Services: BUPA Dental Plan, Critical Illness Plan, and Private Health Scheme, PFNI Applications: Legal Advice Applications, and Lottery Funding Applications, Travel Services: Family Travel insurance, Hotelshop, and Stenaline special rates.
The federation represents the police service on a similar basis to that of a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
although the police force has no legal right to some civil actions such as a strike action
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
.
In 1999, in response to the Patton Report, the federation produced a statement supporting radical changes to facilitate peace. With a view to recruiting Catholics for the police force, the statement suggested voluntary severance to make jobs available. It went on to plea for extra investment in constable and sergeant training and promised that, the then Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
, had changed and was committed to evolving to meet demands and standards. The statement expressed opposition to changing the name of the police service, now the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
(PSNI) as a proud tradition and memorial to those officers injured or killed in connection with The Troubles, as well as opposition to changing the dark green uniform or symbols of harp and crown as representative of either community. Other views expressed the preference for neutral working areas, to be an unarmed force (in common with the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
and UK Police in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
), freedom from political direction, that accepting former paramilitaries or terrorists into the police is unacceptable and that a divided police force was unfeasible within such a small population.