POLICE pay awards such as the one announced this\u00a0year leave officers questioning how much they are valued, according to South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Zuleika Payne.<\/p>\n
The Government announced this week that all police officers will get a 2% pay rise from 1 September.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, because last year\u2019s pay award consisted of a 1% rise and a 1% one-off bonus, it means that officers are effectively only getting another 1% in their pay packets.<\/p>\n
Zuleika said: \u201cAlthough the award for police officers reads as 2%, once the non-consolidated bonus of 1% for the year 2017 -2018 is removed, this is effectively a 1% increase which in real terms equates to something like 0.85%.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn real terms police officers pay has now decreased by around 18% since 2009\/10, so this is a disappointing outcome for police officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PRRB recommended a 3% increase but sadly this isn\u2019t to be the case.<\/p>\n
“Although the average pay for a Police Constable stands at \u00a338,600 per year, this is an average and many earn much less than this,” she said.<\/p>\n
The Government has accepted the recommendations on pay for those entering the degree apprenticeship scheme, with constables on a starting salary of between \u00a318,000 and pay point 1 \u2013 \u00a323,586.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs public sector workers, we strive to deliver the best service we can, but awards of this nature leave us questioning how much we are actually valued,\u201d Zuleika added.<\/p>\n