ALL police officers in England and Wales will receive 1% pay rise in September this year, it’s been announced.<\/p>\n
While plans to scrap most Bank Holidays for officers were rejected by the Police Remuneration Review Body, so was the notion \u2013 and evidence – that police officers in England and Wales deserved a 2.8% pay rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery police officer across England and Wales will be angry and bitterly disappointed with an insulting 1% pay deal by the Government,\u201d said Steve White, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PRRB clearly hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment talks of austerity measures, but this clearly applies to some more than others. The bitter irony won\u2019t be lost on officers that all public sector pay review bodies have had their hands effectively tied to fit the Government\u2019s fiscal agenda and rhetoric of cuts, while MPs themselves enjoyed a pay increase of 10%.\u201d<\/p>\n
As well as rejecting proposals to scrap Bank Holidays, the PRRB also ignored calls for the Away from Home Overnight allowance to be scrapped.<\/p>\n
The PRRB claimed a 1% rise would \u201chelp maintain effective recruitment and retention, and contribute to supporting morale and motivation\u201d in policing. This was today (6 July) endorsed by Home Secretary Theresa May.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
In its report, The Review Body also rejected the Met\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
As well as dog handler\u2019s allowances going up by 1% in September this year, London weighting will also rise by an additional 1%.<\/p>\n