As a Formation Commander one of the more onerous duties I need to perform is interviewing officers proceeding on pre-retirement or pre-resignation leave. Whereas I try to make this as dignified as possible there is no escaping FPM 20-16 which calls for me to destroy the officer's warrant card in his presence. It must be an unnecessarily emotional moment for an officer who has probably served at least 35 years in the Police Force to have the symbol of that dedicated service casually dismembered before him on his last day of work.

Surely the Force can come up with a more suitable way of dealing with what I presume is a security concern without involving a seemingly heartless act of disrespect.

B.J. Smith
SP EU NTN

Dear Mr Smith,

Force Proceeding Manual 20-16(14) is already in the process of being amended so as to disperse with the requirement to destroy an officer's warrant card, in his or her presence, on pre-retirement or pre-resignation leave.

It is envisaged that the warrant card will be retained until the officer's struck off strength date, after which its destruction will be appropriately conducted and witnessed.

Gavin Brown
SSP Support

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