SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation is backing a national challenge to the recent police pay award.<\/p>\n
The Police Federation of England and Wales has started legal proceedings against the Home Office after it failed to honour the 3% pay rise recommendation put forward by The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB).<\/p>\n
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Instead officers received a 2% pay rise in the award announced in July.<\/p>\n
New South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent confirmed the Federation was fully behind the campaign which will challenge how the award was ratified.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government obviously set up the review body a few years ago and they\u2019re repeatedly refusing to accept its recommendations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom my point of view the pay rise has been, in reality, less than 1% and officers are very annoyed in South Yorkshire. And they\u2019re right to be. It\u2019s a disgrace and an insult.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand the judicial review relates to the manner in which the pay increase was ratified and for me, it\u2019s very concerning that the Treasury and the Home Office aren\u2019t even competent in their methods of squeezing cops\u2019 living standards,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers\u2019 living standards are getting narrower and narrower and I think cops have just had enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just want to have something that\u2019s reflecting the rising prices in society.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve is pleased that the national Federation is stepping up to challenge the award and thinks the PRRB recommended rise should be the bare minimum officers should receive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a directional change with John Apter (New PFEW National Chairman) and it shows that regardless of whether this is successful or not, if we\u2019re not happy with it we\u2019re going to challenge it, which I think has been something that rank and file officers have criticised the Fed for not doing in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s positive that this is happening under the new chair and under the new Fed leadership and it\u2019s my job now to make sure officers understand what is happening<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand some members think we should be getting 6% like Scotland but it doesn\u2019t work like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously a different system up there and a different set up. But if we start at the base that the review findings are honoured, I think that\u2019s a very bare minimum.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing forward what I\u2019d like to see is our pay increasing over time to make up the gap to officers\u2019 earnings and to living costs which have grown massively.\u201d<\/p>\n