Force pushes ahead with draconian senior sergeant rotation

Despite fierce opposition from members and The Police Association, we have been advised that the Force intends to pursue a trial rotation of senior sergeants in Region 1 Division 3, Region 4 Division 3 and Region 3 Division 2.

Under the rotation plan, the Force wants the ability to move senior sergeants from their current location, disrupting families and robbing stations and communities of experienced local police.

The Association believes this breaches the Deed of Agreement and misuses the powers granted to the Chief Commissioner under the Police Regulation Act. We also believe that the Force intends to eventually impose the rotation plan on all members.

It is the Association’s view that the Force’s intention to trial the senior sergeant rotation within certain divisions of Regions 1, 3 and 4, is only the beginning of  a wider plan to eventually rotate all members - across all Regions and at all ranks.

It is this view that causes the Association to be very sceptical of the latest advertisement in the gazette for seven sergeant reliever positions in Region One. As it is unclear where these vacancies have come from, the Association will be keeping a close eye on the reliever positions to ensure there is no attempt to rotate sergeants by stealth.

In May this year, more than 200 senior sergeants gathered to express their complete objection to the proposed rotation. During that meeting, senior sergeants resolved to refuse to participate in any expression of interest process that will facilitate a rotation. The Association recommends that senior sergeants affected by the Force’s rotation trial uphold this resolution.

In the meantime, the Association will use every very other means necessary to continue to fight this issue to ensure not only that the rights of senior sergeants are protected now, but that the rights of all members are protected for the future.

       Greg Davies

       Legal Manager