Nigel has written to the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grumshaw, to find out what steps have been taken in the wake of the furore over the recent recruitment hotline set up by Lancashire Constabulary.
Last month it was reported that applicants trying to get through to Lancashire police for an application pack for one of 100 new posts compared the process to attempting to get a ticket to a pop concert or festival. Only 500 application packs were available on a first come first served basis to people who called the hotline and all were given out in just four and a half hours.
Speaking from Westminster, Mr Evans said:
“I spoke this morning with a local PCSO who told me that he had called the hotline 2,000 times with his mobile phone to one ear and his landline to the other but never got through. His friend and colleague tried the hotline 50 times and did get through and has now received his application pack.
“Far from even being a first come first served system, this example serves to highlight that the application process was a completely random one, where success was borne out of complete luck.
“Besides this unfairness it seems to me to be ridiculous that when 100 posts became available they were not offered to serving PCSOs for first refusal. Many PCSOs took on the role on the basis that when Lancashire Constabulary started to recruit again then they would be well placed to apply for the job with the added skill and experience that they had acquired in the role.
“I note the Police and Crime Commissioner’s comments at the time and that he had taken the criticism on board. Therefore, I would like to know exactly what steps have been taken to rectify what is, quite frankly, a slap in the face for many serving PCSOs.
“I hope that the Commissioner will be willing to meet with me in the near future to discuss this important issue.”