Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood today called for a review of special payments made to police officers before cutting any frontline services.
The South Wales Central AM made the appeal after it was revealed that almost £5m in Special Priority Payments were made by Welsh police forces in the last financial year.
Any grades up to superintendent can qualify for the payments for what are considered demanding jobs. The SPP payments are handed in December pay-slips and usually given to between 20 per cent and 40 per cent of officers. Payments can range up to £5,000 in exceptional circumstances.
Gwent Police said that among those who received the payments were officers doing roads policing work and dog handlers, armed response unit members, firearms tactical advisors and neighbourhood support teams. In Gwent more than 600 officers picked up the SPP.
In North Wales more than 700 officers annually receive the payments with £2,700 the highest made.
Leanne Wood said: “This scheme was introduced by Labour under David Blunkett. My understanding is that it was taken out of the main policing pay budget and individual forces have had to cover the costs.
“I’ve been told that very senior police officers believe this system is both divisive and it has been described as an anathema to policing. The new Tory/Lib Dem Coalition Government needs to consider whether this scheme is appropriate for 2011. Most people want to see money being spent on frontline services.”
Leanne Wood, who is a former probation officer, is campaigning for the powers to deal with the courts, police, prisons, probation service and sentencing to be devolved to Wales.
Leanne Wood believes this would allow the Welsh Assembly Government to apply its chosen policies based on the democratic mandate of the people of Wales.
