Staffordshire Police Federation secretary Glyn Pattinson has hit out at Home Secretary Priti Patel after new figures revealed a large annual hike in UK average pay of 7.4 per cent just weeks after police officers were told their pay was being frozen.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed growth in average total pay (including bonuses) was 8.8 per cent, while it was 7.4 per cent for regular pay (excluding bonuses) between April to June 2021.
ONS deputy statistician Jonathan Athow said the figures were evidence the “world of work continues to rebound robustly”.
But they have further enraged police officers who, according to the Police Federation, will be “fully justified in feeling further betrayed” by Ms Patel’s zero per cent pay offer.
Glyn said: “We have bitterly opposed this unfair pay freeze since it was first announced and if anything these new figures have strengthened that position.
“The Home Secretary tried to justify her decision by suggesting it would ensure fairness between public and private sector wage growth but the reality is there is nothing fair about it and never has been.
“The ONS figures show her argument does not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny and only add to the anger, frustration and sense of betrayal felt by our members.
“Police officers have once again been unfairly treated and deserve much, much better. The strained relationship between Government and policing will continue to deteriorate unless ministers start to show our members some respect and give genuine recognition to their courage and determination.
“And that should begin with the offer of a proper pay rise and an honest pledge of support for the brave men and women who protect our communities.”
Glyn’s comments come as Police Federation of England and Wales national vice-chair Ché Donald also spoke of officers’ anger and frustration.
He said: “My colleagues will be dismayed by the news that some sectors are clearly receiving sky high wage rises while police officers receive nothing. They will be fully justified in feeling further betrayed by the unfairness of this news.
“Police officers who were on the frontline of the pandemic have already seen firefighters and local government workers in England given a 1.5 per cent increase.
“The ONS has now said the UK employment situation has been rebounding ‘robustly,’ and this new data will be viewed as further evidence all sectors were not treated equally by this government.
“It is yet another example of why we have lost confidence in a government which deliberately took full advantage of our unique status as public servants without the same employment rights as other members of society.”
The Police Federation has passed a motion of no confidence in the Home Secretary and withdrew its support of the Police Remuneration Review Body.
