Fury as Met Police plan to spend £440k designing certificates to boost morale

The Metropolitan Police have announced they will allocate £440,000 in their budget to put up certificates and picture frames on walls to “recognize and reward” over 44,000 officers.

The certificates are awarded to employees who have shown “innovative impetus” and bravery in the service.

In order to fulfill the promise to its employees, the force under fire has bid for companies to take over the four-year contract to provide the framework for the “Employee Recognition Program”.

However, the move was met with anger in some circles, calling it an “ill-considered use of public money”.

The timing of the plan comes as the Metropolitan Police are in watchdog-enforced special measures following a host of scandals that have plagued the force in recent years – including high-profile police rapist David Carrick and Sarah Everard’s killer, Wayne Couzens.

A new £440,000 scheme sees officers rewarded with framed awards

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has been criticized for the move

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is still investigating serious concerns about the Met – from public trust in the force to its overall performance in Greater London policing.

The Metropolitan Police currently has a budget of £3.24bn, but Chief Mark Rowley has previously warned the force will need a 27 per cent boost in funding if it is to reach 2012 levels – factoring in factors such as inflation were taken into account.

The force also stressed that they were “under no obligation” to spend all £440,000 of the funds allocated and that this was only the “maximum” cost of the scheme.

Notwithstanding, the allocation of funds to the project has drawn criticism from some, including Liberal Democrat police spokeswoman Caroline Pidgeon, who told the London Assembly given the “economic climate and the extraordinary pressures the Met is facing, many Londoners will question what a.” seems to be ill-considered use of public funds. [..]

“If the Met is to build on its mantra of ‘More Trust, Less Crime’, it should strongly consider implementing a cheaper alternative and reallocating the savings to frontline policing.”

The Metropolitan Police have defended the new initiative

MailOnline contacted the Metropolitan Police for more information.

A spokesman said: “The Met is inviting bids for a four-year contract to supply frameworks and certificates for our employee recognition program to recognize and reward over 44,000 Met employees across all local and central units for acts such as bravery, lifesaving, innovation, incitement, seniority and retirement.

“The Met is under no obligation to spend £440,000, this figure is the potential maximum over the four-year contract term, also factoring in contingencies such as demand/inflation.

“Costs are only incurred if/when frames are ordered and is around £2 per employee per year.

“Recognition in all organizations is an important factor in maintaining morale and retaining talent.

“The Met strives to deliver the best value for money, which is why we seek open competition.”

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk