Anger and disappointment at one per cent pay rise

The Government decision to give police officers a one per cent pay increase is an insult, according to Jim Mallen, chairman of Bedfordshire Police Federation.

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) rejected the Police Federation’s call for a 2.8 per cent rise.

“I think all officers will justifiably feel angry and disappointed about this,” says Jim, “The Federation had put forward a strong case and firm evidence to demonstrate why officers should receive a bigger increase. 

“This pay rise fails to recognise the unique role police officers play in society and the particular pressures the service has faced as it has coped with heavy cuts, reform and the growing threats of terrorism, cyber crime and other emerging crimes. Day in, day out, police officers put their lives on the line protecting their communities.

“It is not that long ago that MPs supported a recommendation for their own pay to be increased by 10 per cent so officers have every right to feel angry that a well-reasoned argument for a 2.8 per cent increase for the police has fallen on deaf ears.”

The PRRB decided, in line with the Federation’s evidence, that the pay increase should be consolidated, dismissing chief officers’ views that it should be non-consolidated, which would have meant the increase would not have been pensionable.

It also agreed public holiday pay should not be reduced and away from home overnight allowance should be retained.

Steve White, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said after yesterday’s announcement: “The PRRB clearly hasn’t listened to the reasons why we called for a 2.8 per cent increase on pay, however, it agrees with us on almost every other point we put forward.

“The Home Office and Treasury acknowledge that the UK economy grew by 2.9 per cent in 2014, yet the Government still expects hard-working police officers to further tighten their belts. This will further impact on the low morale among police officers who have told us and the PRRB that they already feel over worked, undervalued and unappreciated.

“The Government talks of austerity measures, but this clearly applies to some more than others. The bitter irony won’t be lost on officers that all public sector pay review bodies have had their hands effectively tied to fit the Government’s fiscal agenda and rhetoric of cuts, while MPs themselves enjoyed a pay increase of 10 per cent.”

He said police officers perform a vital, extraordinary and unique function in society, explaining: “We run towards danger and threats when others can walk away; we are the emergency service of last resort that people come to when they have nowhere else and no-one else to turn to. Therefore, a one per cent pay increase will feel like a kick in the teeth for the 122,000 dedicated, professional and committed police officers who put the lives and welfare of those we serve ahead of their own.”

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