We’ve Had Enough Of Warm Words, Home Secretary

SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation have called on the Government to issue police pay rises to help them get through the cost of living crisis.

Chair Steve Kent was speaking after the Home Secretary heard how officers are struggling to pay the bills and relying on food banks at the National Police Federation of England and Wales.

DC Vicky Knight of North Wales Police told Priti Patel that she had to borrow from her mother to pay for school dinners and fuel for her car as she had no money left at the end of the month. DC Knight, who works in public protection, has 23 years with the service.

Speaking after the meeting, Steve said: “I would like to think that story had an effect on her. We have to see in the short-term some positive changes and then we need to see a positive pay rise being announced.

“I would like to tell the Home Secretary that you need to pay our officers fairly and you need to recover some of the financial damage that has been done. We’ve had a 20% pay cut over the past decade. That is unacceptable. Our officers are struggling. We need to see pay rises now.

“We are one of the poorest paid police forces in the western world. It is not right that we are lagging so far behind. Something needs to change. We’ve had enough warm words. We need to see action now.”

The Home Secretary heaped praise on officers, commending their efforts during the pandemic and promising to support them.

Steve added: “It’s now a case of sadly having to wait to see whether she will come through with any of the promises she’s given. We have to get pay sorted and if we don’t, we are going to have to think of bigger tactics going forward because our officers have had enough. They need a pay rise because they are struggling.”