i7.
Similarly, the officers of the staff associations, who prepare claims, using deficiencies as one of their bargaining counters, see this as a device by Govt. to frustrate their legitimate arguments. Even very senior officers of the Force consider it to be sharp practice. To extrapolate; were the recent pay award to result in a slowing down of wastage and an upsurge in recruitment, the Force could not take full advantage because the establishment has been reduced to an artificial level.
18. Whilst accepting that scarce financial resources must be used to best effect and sums of unused money allocated, for posts which remain unfilled, is not to be wasted, one wonders whether it would be possible merely to freeze force strength at current levels. Unused salaries could be reallocated, perhaps by virement. The real establishment
figure would remain at its original level. Certainly that would have the effect of eradicating unkind and unjustified criticism. It might also be that, were potential recruitment to bring force totals close to the artificial establishment, the freeze could be lifted and the new salaries found from other "votes". The alternative would be to lose the benefit of measures taken to improve recruitment.
OVERVIEW OF RHKPF
19. Having taken account of all the information so generously and expertly provided as to manpower shortages, I must nonetheless take an objective overview. Given its special role and wide responsibilities,
Fine
the RHKPF has always enjoyed an abundance of good things. buildings, superb equipment, excellent recruitment and training are a source of envy among its UK counterparts. In recent years when the financial axe has been wielded to telling effect in the UK, Hong Kong has escaped due to the prosperity of its government. At last, sadly, the salad days are (temporarily one hopes) rather more a diet of glutinous rice. Senior management is facing stringency for the first time.
in comparative terms - there still is fat on the bone; the following extract from/Police Review will show the levels to which
this month's
the once proud UK police service has sunk.
But
-
"COUNTY CUTS:
South Wales Police have had to stop sending officers for training on Bramshill Carousel courses because of a £2 million cut. Avon and Somerset had to apply to the High Court to reverse a DOE
Neighbours decision which would have deprived them of £2.3 million. Lincolnshire has a budget which assumes the purchase of second hand vehicles to replace much of the existing fleet. Derbyshire will not replace 50 civilians. and 72 police officers due to retire during the current year as a result of a £2 million cut. The cut in civilian staff will now mean that
/operational