Letter: Front line facts

I find the attitude of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) towards compulsory retiral at 30 years' service quite extraordinary. I served for ten years in the 1980s as secretary of Fife Police Federation and on the Joint Central Committee of the Scottish Police Federation.

Throughout several decades and into the 1990s the federation policy was for members to retire after 30 years' service, which allowed younger, suitably qualified officers to be promoted.

The local authority in Fife in fact pursued a compulsory retiral policy through the 1960s, which was welcomed by the rank and file and helped morale and efficiency. Sadly, this policy was abandoned following pressure from central government.

The SPF, however, for many years urged its members to adhere to the policy. The suggestion that forces were less efficient after retirals was regarded as nonsense. I am certain Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary never reported even a single such case in its annual reports.

In general, officers who carried on after 30 years, and were not prepared to retire with an excellent index-linked pension, were those in the higher ranks or those who had a cushy office job. Scarcely anyone on the beat front line continued; they were delighted to be able to retire and relax. I do not think for a moment that nowadays the younger qualified officers have changed their attitudes to the stifling of promotion.

I would question whether the federation is actually representing the views of the officers serving on the streets. Have they not been consulted?

Jim Wyllie

Balnagowan Drive

Glenrothes