South Yorkshire Officers Face Cancelled Christmas Amidst Cost-Of-Living Crisis

CHRISTMAS may need to be cancelled for some South Yorkshire Police officers as they struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, Steve Kent, the Federation Chair, has warned. 

Steve said many officers are already struggling to pay the bills, and he is worried about what will happen to them as energy bills continue to dramatically increase. 

He said: “It’s a perfect storm. Prices in the supermarkets are going up. Fuel is still high, and people are really struggling coming into the winter. I’m already hearing from officers who are struggling to put fuel in the car to get to work. What’s it going to be like come October, November, December, January when people are then having to double their electricity bills? 

“The bills are going to go through the roof and people are going to be finding themselves spending a hell of a lot of money. Are officers going to be able to enjoy Christmas with their families? Possibly not.”

Steve said officers are coming to the Federation asking for help with regularity never seen before – and that he’d advise anyone who is struggling to pick up the phone.

Steve Hartshorn, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “Confirmation that the energy price cap will increase again in October is yet another stark reminder of the huge financial pressures many of our members and their families are under.

“We’re now in the appalling situation where we are hearing about officers having to resort to food vouchers to feed their families, with one in seven struggling to cover their monthly essentials. This is only set to get worse as inflation increases and the cost-of-living crisis deepens, further exacerbating the significant reduction in police pay in real terms since 2010. Further action to support those struggling must now be an urgent priority for ministers.”