Officers struggling to make ends meet as London benefits lag behind inflation

13 January 2023

Pay and benefits for officers working in the Capital have not kept pace with soaring inflation, City of London Police Federation Chair Mike Reed spotlighted in a live interview with BBC Radio 4 in response to comments made by the Met commissioner.

Sir Mark Rowley, when asked about the real terms pay cut suffered by police officers, said he is “concerned” about the impact of “challenging” pay and the use of foodbanks.

Mike explained on air: “Officers have faced a real terms pay cut of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent since 2010 depending on where they are at on the pay scale. It is hugely behind where it should be.

“Our food bank is not the first in the country. There are many schemes there to support officers through troubling times at the moment.

“Take up of our food bank right now is reasonable. We have an open-door policy, so we are not monitoring who comes in and who doesn’t. It is there to make sure officers don’t get into trouble and can use it before they get to that stage.”

The benefits of London Weighting and the London Allowance was mentioned by the BBC presenter; however, they currently lag significantly behind inflation and fail to take into account the cost-of-living crisis.

London Weighting has seen an average real terms drop of 19.6 percent due to inflation since July 2010, while the London Allowance has suffered a 16.5 per cent fall.

Meanwhile, the average rent in London has increased by 132 per cent. In 2022 was it £2,142 per month, a staggering increase in comparison to £923 in 2010.

Mike, who joined the service in 1995, explained during his time he has witnessed the abolition of the Housing Allowance, adding: “The cost of living and working in London is a lot more than it is elsewhere in the country.

“Looking at our recent Pay and Morale Survey findings, nationally, a fifth of police officers plan on leaving within the next two years due to pay, morale and the way they are treated by the Government.

“This is concerning, considering the Police Uplift Programme, as it doesn’t bring in ‘extra’ officers - it just takes us back to where we were 10 years ago. Policing is a lot more complex than it was previously. It’s about investing in the future of policing,” he concluded.

The food bank, which is completely anonymous, provides cupboard staples – such as pasta, rice, beans and teabags – on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-11am.

It is based at the Federation offices in Bishopsgate and no appointment is needed.