By Steve Scott

Tayside Police morale has “plummeted’’ under chief constable John Vine’s, an experienced officer has claimed.

In a letter to The Courier, the serving officer alleges that staff are coming into work two hours early to cope with a backlog of paperwork; the much-trumpeted leading constable scheme has caused “unrest and bad feeling’’, while officers are “more or less bullied’’ back to work when they are absent through illness or injury.

In response, a spokeswoman for the police claimed the letter was “the opinion of just one disillusioned and unhappy staff member.

“We do not believe this to reflect the opinions of the majority in Tayside Police,’’ she added.

The officer, who wishes to remain anonymous but has supplied his name and rank, was prompted to write the letter by recent evidence that “the public of Tayside are beginning to question comments by the chief constable.

“The job of police officer will never be perfect and there have been many times when morale has dipped but, in the five or so years that Mr Vine has been in command, morale has plummeted,’’ he continues.

“We officers are advised not to use the media to air our concerns but they are not being addressed, while Mr Vine regularly uses the press to congratulate himself on his ‘good work’.

“If workers in the public or private sector were treated as we are, they would deem it necessary to strike.’’

The officer details the disquiet in the force surrounding Mr Vine’s change back to the “antiquated’’ seven-day shift system, and his creation of the leading constable scheme.

“As far as I am aware, this system is only worked now by Tayside Police,’’ he writes.

“Mr Vine says he initiated the change back when he noted operational officers were receiving an extra 40 rest days a year.

“However, he failed to state that those extra days were for officers having a much longer working day, that in busy periods two shifts were on duty and that many of the so-called rest days were used for training.

“The leading constable role, which gives officers an extra £1000 plus a year for carrying out other duties, has caused unrest and bad feeling as many of the leading constables have insufficient experience and, on numerous occasions, officers not designated in the role are being forced to carry out leading constable duties.”

The officer also refutes Mr Vine’s claim that paperwork has been reduced.

“He appears to be unaware that there are police officers who arrive two hours before their shift is due to start and remain long after it is completed, unpaid, in order to keep on top of their paperwork,’’ he adds.

He alleges that the much-vaunted reduction in the amount of days lost to sickness is a result of sick officers being compelled to return to work.

“Police officers off work through illness and injury and in possession of a doctor’s line are contacted at home and are more or less bullied into returning to work on light duties, which consists of shuffling paper in overcrowded offices.

“This is unproductive but makes the statistics look good.’’

The officer further states that the recent “enemy within” comments by Mr Vine concerning the threat of terrorism in the Tayside area “caused great concern’’.

“If I or any of my colleagues had made such a comment we would have almost certainly be called before the Professional Standards body and face some form of discipline.

“Working as an operational officer in Tayside Police is becoming more difficult and is a thankless task.

“As a result there has been a marked increase in the number of police officers who have resigned in recent years.’’

The police spokeswoman refuted the officer’s claims.

“In a large organisation such as the police there will be those who are disaffected and they decide not to discuss their concerns with those within the organisation,’’ she said.

“The developments and achievements of Tayside Police and the professionalism of staff in recent years has earned respect and world-wide praise which has been highlighted in your newspaper.’’