PROPOSED RULE CHANGE
This page is to give everyone information regarding a proposal that will come to the National Council Meeting (British Section AGM) in May 2009. It concerns who should be allowed to join the International Police Association. No. 1 Region Scotland wants as many people as possible to discuss and consider the proposal, so if you can attend your Branch AGM, this will be discussed there. If you are unable to attend your Branch AGM please contact your Branch Secretary if you have any views/opinions/comments regarding the subject. This will allow Scotland to provide as wide an overview of the feelings of it's members at the NCM.
Background
Currently Rule 2 of the Association states:
Ordinary membership shall be open to:
a) Any serving or retired Police Officer of the Police Services shown
in Appendix ‘B’.
b) Members of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.
c) Serving members of the Special Constabulary of the Police Services
listed in Appendix ‘B’ and members of the Special Constabulary who have
resigned on reaching age limit or on health grounds.
d)Any other serving or retired Police Officer of a Police Service whose
application is approved by the National Council.
Appendix 'B' includes all UK Police Forces and the rules can be viewed here.
A proposal was printed in the Police World (Vol 53 No.4 2008) to change
the above rule to include:
e) Police Staff employed directly by a UK Police force who perform
core duties or undertale a role identical to police officers, and have
immediate contact with the public and interface with them on a daily
basis. Examples of Police stff who would be entitled to join the IPA:
Police Community Support Officers, Investigative Staff, Detention Officers,
Scenes of Crime Officers, Enquiry Office Staff, Control Room & Call
Handling Staff, Recruitment Officers, Police Trainers, Operational ANPR
Staff, Safety Camera Operators.
These examples are by no means exhaustive and may be amended as deemed
appropriate by the Association to include other categories of staff
as long as they meet the criteria similar to the above examples. This
also takes into account local variations in the aboe roles between UK
Police forces)
What Happens Now?
This subject of extending the membership will come to the National Council meeting for a vote. It is obvious that Policing has changed over the years as have roles within the Police. It has been voted for at previous meetings and in 1995 was defeated 32 votes to 3, and in 2005 21 votes to 17.
IPA Scotland wants to ensure that this matter is fully understood by
the membership and that we know what the majority of our members want.
Do you want:
1. The rule to remain unchanged?
2. The suggested amendement to be adopted?
3. A change to the proposal?
If a branch wants to change the wording of the proposal this should be communicated at an early stage to No. 1 Region for discussion at our AGM on March 15th.
The argument for change is usually an emotive one and in the past those that are happy with the current rules want the Association to remain as a "Police" Association and argue that we have a huge untapped resource of serving officers throughout the country. On the other hand, Policing has changed significantly since the rules were made and those that wish change argue that we should be more inclusive and open membership to the wider Police family.
IPA Scotland looks forward to discussing branches views at our AGM.
