PAT RULING - LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Further to my email of 11 January 2012, I can inform you that at today's meeting of the Police Negotiating Board, representatives of the Home Office confirmed the following:

1) A decision from the Home Secretary on whether or not to ratify the PAT ruling would be made shortly. No time frame for that decision was given.

2) Once the Home Secretary has made a decision, a Home Office Circular will be issued to forces. This will be followed by draft Determinations on which there will statutory consultation with the PNB.

3) The decision on whether or not to ratify the PAT ruling was being taken in isolation from any consideration of the second part of the Winsor Review, which is also due for publication shortly.

Staff Side has asked that a meeting of the PNB Joint Secretaries be convened to discuss the draft Determinations when the Home Office Circular has been issued outlining the Home Secretary's decision. The Official Side has agreed to this.

I will keep you updated in respect of any further developments.