PFEW launches annual survey of officers on pay and morale

POLICE officers have been asked to share their views on how issues such as pay, pensions, shift patterns and career prospects have had an effect on their wellbeing.

The Police Federation of England and Wales has launched its annual survey of pay and morale in the service.

Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said he would “encourage all members to take part in this survey.”

The survey was carried out last year to collect data in preparation for the Federation’s submission to the new Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB). This year, some of the questions have been repeated to track trends in officers’ attitudes.

New questions have also been added to ensure that officers have a voice on upcoming matters that the PRRB are considering. “This evidence can also be used more widely, to lobby on your behalf,” a spokesman for the Federation said.

Officers will be quizzed on their views of life in the police service. Some of the issues covered relate to recent and upcoming changes to pay and conditions, as well as asking for officers’ views on how future decisions about pay can be made in as fair a way as possible.

Officers will be asked to rate how changes to the role have affected their morale, such as the introduction of fitness testing, changes to pensions, the direct entry scheme and changes to discipline.

They will also be quizzed on promotion prospects, working hours, and the performance and development process.

Shift patterns, training, managers’ behaviour and how long officers think they will stay in the service will also come under the microscope in the anonymous survey, which takes around 15 minutes to fill in.

Andy Fittes, General Secretary of the Federation, said: “This Police Federation survey is your opportunity to tell us what you think about pay and conditions. We ran a very similar survey last year, and it formed the core part of our evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body. The results will provide me and my team with the critical evidence to argue your case to them, and to influence any changes.

“Your views can make a difference. The more people that complete this questionnaire, the more strength it will give us to keep people at the highest levels of policing informed of your point of view. Please take the time to complete the survey so that I can be in a position to represent you as you would wish. Thank you for your time.”

Mr Bowles added: “It is a worthwhile thing to do. I would encourage all members to take part in this survey so that they can have their voice heard and let people know how they feel on the matters that are important to them.”

Officers have one month to fill in the online questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pfewpaysurvey2015.