Police officers have been shoddily treated by the Government and rewarded for their dedication and professionalism during the pandemic with a zero per cent pay increase which amounted to a real terms cut to their wages, says the Federation’s national vice-chair.
And Ché Donald, responding to yesterday’s budget announcement by Rishi Sunak, says the Chancellor must ensure that officers receive more than the four per cent he mentioned for it to make a real difference.
He said: “The Chancellor told us public services are improving, the economy is firmly back on track and wages are rising, but not for most police officers.
“His statements about fair and affordable pay will be particularly meaningless for my colleagues unless he puts his money where his mouth is and commits to a substantial increase, which factors in the rising costs of living.
“To borrow his own words, we urgently need him to level up police pay so inflation is taken into account, and my colleagues receive a fair wage for an increasingly difficult job.”
Ché added: “As well as a real term pay increase, we urgently need a fair pay mechanism which is independent of Government interference and delivers a binding outcome to restore trust and faith in the police pay process as anything less is just populist political fanfare.”
The comments have been welcomed by Phil Jones, chair of Staffordshire Police Federation, who said police officers were frustrated and disappointed by the zero per cent pay award announced earlier this year.
“Of course, it is good news that the Chancellor has lifted the pay freeze imposed on parts of the public sector. However, we are still some way off seeing what pay rise officers might be awarded next year. Any pay increase has to be considered by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and in the past it has been directed by the Government in terms of what recommendations it can make,” says Phil.
“We are aware of some officers who are struggling to make ends meet due to the pay freeze and the soaring costs of living. Home energy bills have gone through the roof and it is costing more and more to fill up your car with fuel.
“Given that police officers have such a unique role in society, fighting and preventing crime, keeping the peace, protecting the vulnerable and often putting their lives on the line while doing so, it is time that the Government ensured they were paid fairly.”
