11 March 2026

Chief Constables Under Attack For Trying To Reduce Officer Pay and Conditions

It is “deeply troubling” that Chief Constables are trying to make it cheaper to keep officers on duty when they should be at home resting – and it threatens public safety – the Chair of Dorset Police Federation has said.

Chris Wood was speaking after the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) made its submission to the police pay review body.

Police officers are currently entitled to a minimum four hours’ compensation at time and a half when they are required to work on a cancelled rest day or bank holiday, recognising the disruption to protected rest and family commitments.

But the NPCC has proposed paying officers at time and one-third, calculated in 15-minute increments, for the exact time worked. Their submission also seeks to tighten the rules around how cancelled rest days are re-rostered.

The Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) said that, with demand overwhelming most forces, policing is only viable because it places excessive burdens such as cancelled rest days on officers as a norm rather than exception. It warns that, in particular, public order policing depends on such surge capacity.

Chris said: “Having read the NPCC’s proposals to the police pay body, I cannot overstate how deeply troubling these are, especially in relation to our public order officers. Our officers have just endured one of the most demanding periods in recent memory, policing protests on an almost weekly basis while navigating unprecedented strain on their own wellbeing and family lives.

“Chief constables themselves have admitted that the current model is ‘unsustainable’ – yet now they seek to weaken one of the few remaining safeguards that protects these officers from being pushed beyond their limits.

“Rest days are not a luxury to be played with by forces, they are essential for physical recovery, mental resilience, and the ability to make sound decisions in situations that directly affect public safety. Reducing compensation for cancelled rest days, which fortunately in Dorset is still rare, sends a clear and damaging message: that officers’ time, health, and families matter less than balancing short‑term budget pressures.”

He continued: “Policing relies on surge capacity – but that capacity is built on the goodwill of officers. Goodwill that is already running on fumes.

“At a time when experienced public order officers are leaving faster than forces can replace them, eroding core protections is reckless. These changes would not only harm officers; they would leave the public less safe. Any system that depends on constant sacrifice cannot survive by devaluing that sacrifice.

“Chief Constables need to remember that public order policing in Dorset, like many forces, is a voluntary role on top of an officer’s day job. If officers stop volunteering to maintain their accreditation, there will be no one left to protect the public in these situations.

“This on top of the recommended 2.5% pay increase from Chief Constables, when in real terms we are still more than 20% down on where police officer pay should be. It truly shows how out of touch they are with the pressures their own staff are facing, day in and day out. “