A fresh row over police pay has erupted after the Home Office recommendations for a two per cent increase this year were branded “disgusting” by the Police Federation.
Staffordshire branch chair Phil Jones joined colleagues in condemnation of the submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) which says the recent funding settlement provides finances for a pay rise of “at least two per cent”.
Phil described the recommendation as yet another kick in the teeth for police officers who were struggling to make ends meet following last year’s pay freeze.
It comes just days after a survey found 93 per cent of Staffordshire Police officers did not feel they were being fairly paid for the stresses and strains of the job.
“The Government has confirmed our members will finally receive a pay rise over the next three years as the economy begins to recover from the pandemic,” said Phil.
“But after a decade of pay freezes and below inflation, a two per cent offer would be totally unacceptable - yet another kick in the teeth - and the Government has to come up with something much better.
“None of 0ur members joined the police to get rich but our recent pay and morale survey found that some are struggling to make ends meet every month and three quarters reckon they are worse off now than they were five years ago.
“The pay situation has had a devastating impact on officers and their families and the bottom line is they deserve better.
“They put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of Staffordshire and their pay should reflect that courage, determination and professionalism.”
Police Federation national vice-chair Ché Donald said police officer pay had fallen by 20 per cent in real terms since 2010 and described the recommendation as disgusting.
He said: “I can only assume the Home Office recommendation of a two per cent pay award to the Police Remuneration Review Body contains a typo and missed out the much needed zero after the two to make 20.
“Anything else is not just grossly unfair, it is disgusting and shows just how little this Government really values police officers.
“After more than a decade of pay caps and freezes, the Police Federation’s pay and morale Survey reveals a worsening morale crisis in policing and acts as a health warning for anyone considering joining the service.
“The survey results make clear the financial pressure on police officers, their families and the stress this puts on them just to make ends meet, this is not anecdotal evidence, it is empirical.
“All police officers want is fair and equitable treatment in relation to pay, this recommendation of two per cent comes at a time when inflation is running at five per cent, with National Insurance increases and spikes in energy prices.
“We will continue to advance our plans to challenge this pay mechanism, which quite frankly, is nothing short of subjugation and servitude.”
