Police

[Anonymous <no_email@fake.address>]

This is ongoing and there is no end is in sight.I have been a police officer for sixteen years. I have a clean discipline record, a good professional track record, am academically and professionally well qualified, but I am a woman.In addition, I am confident, capable and articulate. I know my stuff - I also train other officers on it.

My problem started with a change of boss.I had previously been supervised by male police officers - then I got a female civilian (18 years older than me).I had no inclination at all of any problem, and continued to observe the standards and criteria previously set.My new boss made no changes; in fact, she paid little attention to me and left me to it.

Problems started when I foresaw a major legal problem.I worked out potential options but gave her not only the info she needed, but the breakdown and reasons behind the suggested options.She failed to act,the problem occurred and when more senior managers found out, she blamed me. Fortuntaely, I had kept records of all my communications with her,and was able to exonerate myself. But it was difficult, unplesant and unnecessary.

>From then on, I was marked. My apprisal was disparaging and contained unevidenced criticisms. (Police procedure is prescriptive and clear, yet she disregarded policy relevant to appraisal completion.) When challenged, she became aggressive, emotional and unpleasant.She amended it, but still failed to evidence the comments that remained and claimed that we had discussed it and that I had agreed to it. She tried to pressure me into signing it; I declined. Stalemate reigned for six months before she produced another draft. The reamrks had been removed but replaced with vague references that had been distorted and misused.

When I eventually complained to her line manager (a man)my complaint was initially rejected. I was then subjected to a tirade of aggressive, untrue and deeply wounding assumptions about my personality and character. Inferences were made about my relationships with colleagues and allusions about my proprted behaviour were offered as fact. My protestations were beaten down and I was denied a voice. Reports and records of meetings were prepared in advance of the meeting and then served as true records.

For several months, I was was bullied by this man. It really embarrasses me to admit that - people like me don't get bullied, or so I thought. I had done nothing wrong, but I had challenged the establishment.

Prior to the grievance being submitted, I had been ill. I had not recovered from pleurisy earlier in the year and I was very weak but continued to work. My children got chicken pox (one by one) recovered and then pased it to my husband who was very ill. He nearly died. He was in hospital, very ill.I was ill - I had lost my voice and thought I had flu. Because I had no leave left, I requested two days compassionate leave to enable me to sort out my donmmestic disasters. It was granted, and one week later, I developed chicken pox. I have never felt so ill in my life. I returned to work a month later.I had no problems or suggestions of any impropriety at all from any manager after my return. 

Four days after the grievance was due to go to the next stage, I was served with a performance memo that alleged I had threatened to kill my line manager. It was written by her luine manager and supported with a statement from his police deputy. Considering it was such a serious allegation, its curious that six months had passed since the apperent incident. During this time, nothing had been said to me, the "evidence" had been available but nothing had been done, no disciplinary action had been taken, nothing had been done to check my welfare, my mental suitability to continue in my job, nor to ensure the safety of my line manager. Nothing has ever been done, nor have I ever been asked about it despite my requests for them to adress it. It was a fit up, pure and simple, and they clearly expected me to cave in.

I brough it to the attention of the Area Business Manager, the most senior manager yet. She was clearly shocked by it and was unable to answer why neither the procedure for serving such memos, nor the issues raised by me had been addressed. She undertook to deal with it. She also accepted the inappropriate nature of the following comment "you're very confident for a woman" uttered by her immediate subordinate to me. The ABM is the former head of Eqaul Opportunities for the Force and Guardian of policy compliance etc.

She told him to withdraw it. He did, but then he used it in my subsequent appraisal. When I applied for another posting, I was asked about it. (I didn't get the job...that's OK if I was crap, but its not OK if its because of my appraisal.

I had a new line manager by now, a vapid, vaporous individual, newly promoted and I believe bullied by the same people. He used the memo in his appraisal of me despite telling me there was no basis for it, procedure hadn't been follwed etc. He claimed not to know me well enough to appraise, yet apparently well enough to drop my appraisal markings.

I amde many complaints to him and appeals for him to intervene in the bullying. As my line manager, he has a direxct duty of care to provide a safe working environemt for me. He is also Personnel Manager of the station and so has an even greater responsibility. Yet he failed me on both counts and allowed it to continue so that I am now absent through stress related sickness.

My absence provided the opportunity for him to sort matters out without treading on toes. He has done nothing. I am now facing a 50% cut in pay unless I return. But how can I? My reputation, credibility and confidence are shattered, I have no trust in my managers, I have been fitted up and punished for daring to speak up for my rights. I haven't demanded favours - just fairness and objectivity. They set the rules, I observed them , they didn't and when I spoke out, they fitted me up. But who will believe me? These are senuior police officers, the doyen of honesty, integrity and modernity. Who am I? - a mere sergeant whose ego has been dented.

If they are prepared to fit up one of their own, what will they do to you? 

(In case you were wondering, the Police Federation have shied away. They don't like civil war and they particularly don't like what might happen to them if they are known to have supported an upstart - particularly a female upstart)