CSIF Union Warns of Instability Due to Excessive Temporary Appointments in Local Police Force

The Local Police force is facing instability, according to the CSIF union, which has raised concerns over the City Council’s staffing policies. The union argues that the force relies too heavily on temporary appointments for leadership roles, which they believe undermines the independence and consistency of public safety management.

Data shows that 81% of command-level positions are currently filled through temporary arrangements. This creates a "domino effect": when a leader is appointed temporarily, it leaves a vacancy in the rank below, causing instability throughout the entire chain of command. The union has identified at least 16 leadership roles currently affected by this system.

The current breakdown is stark:

• The head of the force is a deputy commissioner on secondment.
• All three deputy commissioner roles are held by inspectors on temporary assignments.
• Half of all inspector positions are filled under the same temporary scheme.
• Among sub-inspectors, 9 of the 20 positions are vacant, and 9 of the 11 filled roles are temporary—a provisionality rate of over 81%.
• There are also plans to fill officer roles with basic-scale agents on secondment.

Administratively, this reliance on temporary measures—which are intended only for exceptional, short-term situations—raises concerns about the principles of merit and fairness required for public service. Courts have repeatedly ruled that government roles should be filled through standard competitive processes, rather than allowing temporary fixes to become the norm.

In response, the CSIF has urged the City Council to stop relying on improvisation. The union has proposed a plan to normalize staffing, which includes creating an official job catalog, setting a clear schedule for permanent public job openings, and improving coordination between the Security and Human Resources departments. The goal is to end a cycle that the union says weakens the police force’s hierarchy and its ability to plan for the long term.