THE Chair of South Yorkshire Police Federation has backed the call for a 2.8% pay rise for all police officers as the pay and conditions of Bobbies have \u201cslipped further and further back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika Payne said the pay rise request was “not unreasonable when you consider the overall fall in Police officer pay \u201d and added that it was \u201cgalling and most unpalatable\u201d that MPs have been awarded \u201cdisproportionately higher pay increases\u201d while police pay has stagnated.<\/p>\n
The Police Federation of England and Wales and the Superintendents\u2019 Association have once again asked for a pay increase of 2.8% for all police officers.<\/p>\n
The Government have capped public sector pay increases at 1% but the two staff associations said that Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) \u201cmust be free to draw their own conclusions based on the evidence presented.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cWhat we have seen \u2013 as well as pay freezes and 1% rises \u2013 is increases in our pension contribution, increases in our National Insurance contributions and of course the cost of living has increased \u2013 take home pay has fallen drastically. In real terms, the austerity measures have meant that over the last 8 years, our pay has fallen by 14.6%. This is wholly unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuleika also commentated on chief officers wanting to introduce bonus payments for certain roles in policing. In South Yorkshire, the force wants to give detectives bonus payments and those working in custody a bonus payment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be seen as incredibly divisive,\u201d she continued. \u201cEverybody within policing \u2013 police officers and support staff alike, PCSOs, Special Constables, all make a contribution. Those roles are there because they are vital to the way the organisation functions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo to start identifying specific roles which attract bonus payment could certainly serve to be divisive, and it would affect morale. Everybody within the police organisation is important, that\u2019s why the role is there, that\u2019s why it exists and that\u2019s why they perform it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo far we\u2019ve had discussions on this nationally, and as the New Year unfolds and we enter into consultation with the Chief Constable, then certainly the Federation will be very vociferous and articulate in the way this matter is dealt with, and the sentiments of our members will most certainly be presented.\u201d<\/p>\n