Federation: Police Officers Need A Fair Pay Deal

12 March 2026

More officers will leave the job and others will be stretched to breaking point if there isn’t a fair police pay deal this year, the Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation has said.

Tom Gent said that he was backing the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)’s call for a minimum 7% annual pay rise for each of the next three years.

In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body for 2026, PFEW said the multi-year pay settlement was essential to improve retention, morale and operational capability. It also called for a raft of improvements to officer conditions, including increased allowances and annual leave.

By contrast, the National Police Chiefs’ Council is supporting a 3.5% pay rise if it is fully funded by the Government, or a below-inflation 2.5% if it is not.

Tom said: “Our officers are doing everything asked of them and more, but year after year they’re being asked to do it for less in real terms. In Avon and Somerset, we’re already seeing the impact: experienced colleagues walking away, newer officers under immense strain, and public safety being stretched to breaking point. Another real‑terms pay cut will only accelerate this decline.

"We are seeing experienced officers walk away from policing. Nationally, nearly half of our constables have five years’ service or less. Our officers simply can't afford to stay in policing, and it's our communities that suffer."

The PFEW is also calling for:

- Full recognition of the ‘P Factor’ in police pay, to properly reflect the risks, restrictions and obligations unique to policing.

- Fewer pay points for PCs to simplify progression and improve competitiveness, including removing the lowest pay points to reflect frontline expectations from day one.

- Increase the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20%, for work between 8pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

- Acting up and temporary promotion payments should be paid from day one and made pensionable.

- The maximum London and South East allowance should be paid as standard.

- Increased annual leave, with any unused leave to be paid.

- A new long-service leave and recuperation leave.

- Workload payments to Inspectors and Chief Inspectors should be extended, with additional pay for hours worked beyond 48 per week, pending a full review of the 1994 PNB Agreement.