Shortfall threatens disability association
Shortfall threatens disability association
THE National Disabled Police Asso¡ciation may be forced to shut down within weeks if it does not receive more funding, its chairman has warned.Scott Westbrook, who is on a non-funded secondment from the Met, told Police Review the association's £31,000 Home Office grant is not enough to even cover his salary and the association's expenses and the funding is about to run out.
He currently runs the association from a bedroom in his house and his neighbour volunteers to help with administration.
Mr Westbrook said he fears that as of 1 April the association, which has only been in existence since 2004, will be reduced to a website he maintains in his spare time.
He added it is unfair that other staff associations receive more money than the National Disabled Police Association does from the Home Office.
Mr Westbrook said that the National Black Police Association receives £180,000 and has four seconded staff, the British Association for Women in Policing gets £100,000 and a part-funded post and the Gay Police Association gets £100,000.
'The funding granted is so out of balance that I would say it is discriminatory; a breach of the Home Office's disability equality scheme and sends the message that the treatment of staff with disabilities is irrelevant,' Mr Westbrook said.
He added: 'When staff become disabled through illness or injury, we need people that know about adjustments and people that can advise or assist. Without this, disabled staff and officers are essentially pushed aside. These people need a voice. I think the work we do is essential.'
Mr Westbrook suggested national staff associations could pool resources and share offices so the funding could be shared more equally. He added that the association is looking for corporate sponsorship and is also trying to attain charity status.
In his time at the association, Mr Westbrook has dealt with employment issues regarding HIV, officers who have had their driving status and firearms licences taken away because they have diabetes and probationers who are struggling with their assessments because they have attention deficit disorder or dyslexia.
He deals with inquiries from potential recruits with disabilities, gives advice to forces' human resources departments and works with the Home Office, ACPO and parliamentary groups on disability issues. Mr Westbrook is also vice-chairman of the United Kingdom Council for Access and Equality.
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Home office recognises that the NDPA plays an important role in supporting disabled officers and promoting the police service to the disabled community.
'The Equality and Diversity Strategy Board [comprising Home Office, ACPO, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Association of Police Authorities] will be undertaking an independent review of all staff associations later this year. Staff associations will be invited to contribute to the review. It is too early to predict the outcome of that review.'Article in this weeks Police Review (23/03/07)
