Disgust at insulting 1% Government police officer pay deal

ALL police officers in England and Wales will receive 1% pay rise in September this year, it’s been announced.

While plans to scrap most Bank Holidays for officers were rejected by the Police Remuneration Review Body, so was the notion – and evidence – that police officers in England and Wales deserved a 2.8% pay rise.

“Every police officer across England and Wales will be angry and bitterly disappointed with an insulting 1% pay deal by the Government,” said Steve White, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

“The PRRB clearly hasn’t listened to the reasons why we called for a 2.8% increase on pay, however they agree with us on almost every other point we put forward.

“The Home Office and Treasury acknowledge that the UK economy grew by 2.9% in 2014, yet the Government still expects hard-working police officers to further tighten their belts.

“This will further impact on the low morale among police officers who have told us and the PRRB that they already feel overworked, under-valued and unappreciated.

“Government talks of austerity measures, but this clearly applies to some more than others. The bitter irony won’t be lost on officers that all public sector pay review bodies have had their hands effectively tied to fit the Government’s fiscal agenda and rhetoric of cuts, while MPs themselves enjoyed a pay increase of 10%.”

As well as rejecting proposals to scrap Bank Holidays, the PRRB also ignored calls for the Away from Home Overnight allowance to be scrapped.

The PRRB claimed a 1% rise would “help maintain effective recruitment and retention, and contribute to supporting morale and motivation” in policing. This was today (6 July) endorsed by Home Secretary Theresa May.

Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “While agreeing with the comments from Steve White, I would go further – I am absolutely disgusted at this insulting offer. Officers will receive another real terms pay cut.”

In its report, The Review Body also rejected the Met’s call for targeted bonuses to be paid to detectives and firearms officers, stating that there is no evidence extra pay would help with recruitment and retention.

As well as dog handler’s allowances going up by 1% in September this year, London weighting will also rise by an additional 1%.