31 May 2012 Last updated at 10:47 ET

NIPSA calls for end to PSNI rehiring retired officers

The PSNI has rehired hundreds of retired officers in civilian roles

Members of NI's largest public sector union have called for an end to the PSNI policy of rehiring retired officers on temporary contracts.

Delegates at the NIPSA annual conference in Londonderry unanimously supported a motion opposing the practice.

The union represents more than 1,200 civilian staff working for the PSNI.

It said its members were being denied opportunities because of the policy.

NIPSA said at present retired police officers were rehired for jobs that are not publicly advertised.

The motion said the practice had resulted in a culture of jobs for the boys.

It also criticised PSNI plans to outsource hundreds of support staff roles to private companies which employ hundreds of former police officers.

NIPSA has raised its concerns in meetings with the policing board and the audit office, which is conducting an investigation into the PSNI recruitment policy.

The audit office hopes to have a draft report ready by the end of May.

Last week the PSNI revealed it gave NIPSA an "extensive presentation" on agency staff earlier this year.

In a statement, the PSNI said there was an existing and well understood procedure for the resolution of disagreements in common with good industrial relations practices and that issues of concern should be raised through the appropriate channels.

Hundreds of former RUC officers have been rehired by the PSNI on temporary contracts after retiring with generous Patten redundancy packages.