Have your say in pay and morale survey

1 November 2021

Derbyshire Police Federation chair Tony Wetton is calling on all members to take part in the 2021 pay and morale survey which gets underway today.

The survey, which can be completed online and runs until the end of November, aims to gain the views from officers on the frontline.

The results will then be used to support the Police Federation campaign for fairer pay for  officers.

Tony said: “I would encourage all our members to complete this important survey and make their feelings known in the strongest possible terms. Policing has been under huge pressure in recent years and negative media coverage of the response to the pandemic and the handling of street protests, alongside the refusal to prioritise officers for the Covid vaccine and the disgraceful zero per cent pay rise, have all really dented officer morale.

“This is bound to be reflected in the results of the survey and we hope the findings will be taken seriously by ministers when they are published.”

National Federation chair John Apter said the survey was the only consistent national survey that represented member attitudes on pay and conditions.

He said the evidence collected this year would play a vital part in supporting the ongoing campaign to seek fairer pay and remuneration for police officers across England and Wales.

The findings from last year’s survey starkly illustrated the damage caused by Covid-19 as more than three quarters (76 per cent) of respondents felt that they were unfairly paid for the risks and responsibilities of their job during the pandemic.

The factor most likely to have a detrimental effect on their morale was how the police as a whole are treated, while 70 per cent of those planning to leave the police claimed this factor had a major impact on their intention to leave.

John said: “The Government’s decision to freeze police officer pay has been met with huge disappointment and anger by our members.

“The current Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) system has proved it is not fit for purpose and it must be replaced by something which properly takes account of policing interests and is not readily and easily manipulated by the Government.

“This is why I am urging all members to take the time to complete this survey. Your opinion matters and your feedback will give us the evidence to be able to fight for fairer pay and conditions on your behalf.

“Together our voices are stronger and more impactful.”

Following the news of a police pay freeze earlier this year, the Police Federation launched a national campaign with the aim to reset police-Government relations and fight for a fairer pay system which acknowledges the tremendous efforts of police officers who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe.  

It withdrew from the PRRB after recommendations from the body were once again disregarded by the Government, seeing officers with no uplift in pay despite the efforts and challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2021 pay and morale survey is being conducted by the Police Federation’s in-house research department, which plays a vital part in providing strategically important evidence to achieve better pay and conditions for members. Members will be sent a link to the survey via email. It will close on 30 November.