The police pay process is \u201crigged\u201d and should be reformed, South Yorkshire Police Federation said.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent said the Federation would not engage with the Police Remuneration Review Body until it allowed for a fairer process.<\/p>\n
The body provides independent advice to the Government on pay and conditions for police officers up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent.<\/p>\n
Over the summer, it was announced officers would receive a pay rise of 4.75% \u2013 an offer dwarfed by some offered to other public sector workers.<\/p>\n
However, Steve believed it was a \u201cpointless\u201d process due to the recommendations made by the body having no binding effect.<\/p>\n
He warned many suggestions had been \u201cfrequently ignored or not adopted\u201d over the past few years.<\/p>\n
Steve said: \u201cWe need binding arbitration, we need the review body where the results have to be adopted by Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government just needs to recognise that it\u2019s not fair and it\u2019s not right, and it\u2019s almost a perverse process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve called on the Government to look at the situation objectively and decide whether it thought police officers were being afforded a level playing field when it came to pay.<\/p>\n
He said the new Labour Government had the \u201cperfect opportunity to wipe the slate clean\u201d and work with the Federation going forward.<\/p>\n
He urged the Government to \u201crestore some of the relationships that policing has had with previous Governments\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe need to get police pay back to where it should be and stop us being some of the poorest paid officers in the western world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Labour Party being a party that is there to stand for individuals rights and worker\u2019s rights, I think it\u2019s a bit odd that they wouldn\u2019t consider changing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve\u2019s comments came after PFEW Acting National Chair, Tiff Lynch, also branded the police pay review process \u201crigged\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe Government hand picks the members, constrains their remit and decides the outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a football match where one side selects the opponent\u2019s players, referees and has a veto over the result.\u201d<\/p>\n