An appraisal related pay scheme for the U.K. police service

Abstract

The U.K. Government is demanding large scale reform of the police service. The Sheehy Inquiry (1993) offered a number of recommendations to the service; attempting to improve performance, reduce expenditure and increase public accountability. The recommendation for officers to be financially rewarded for individual performance has translated into an appraisal related pay scheme; to be implemented for all ranks in 1996. This article attempts to highlight issues which may obstruct the successful operation of such a system in the police service. Performance related pay via appraisal has arrived as a result of external pressures and therefore neither the necessary internal commitment nor the performance culture is in place. The number of potential problems with the scheme appear to outweigh any benefits the Government may want to harvest. The service is unprepared for the appraisal related pay scheme and as a result may experience a reduction in police performance to below any level it may be currently experi...