Police pay step in right direction, but still falls short

17 July 2023

Today’s announcement that police officer pay for 2023/24 will increase by 7 per cent across all ranks is a step in the right direction, but still falls short of the real-term pay cut officers have suffered since 2000.

A report published earlier this year by the independent think tank, Social Market Foundation, stated that police officers had endured a 17 per cent real term pay cut since 2000, when you take into account inflation.

Steve Hartshorn, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said:

“Today, the government have announced they have accepted in full the recommendation of the Police Remuneration Review Body, and officers will therefore receive a pay increase of 7 per cent from 1 September this year. That is a step in the right direction, but we must not lose sight of the fact that this uplift still fails to take account of the real term cut of 17 per cent officers have suffered since 2000.

“It is important that government also provides new money for the pay award so that chief officers do not have to cut essential services to the public to fund it.

“Hearing today’s news, I have no doubt that police officers will have mixed feelings – on the one hand, they will be pleased that the pay award was not as bad as some media outlets had speculated, but also disappointed that it doesn’t fully take account of inflation, as they and their families struggle with increased utility, mortgage and food costs.

“We will continue to push for fair pay awards that take full account of inflation and recognise and reward the unique status of police officers; including the introduction of a fair, independent mechanism and negotiation process, so that we can properly sit down with government and employers to negotiate pay settlements that fully consider the risks and restrictions placed on police officers’ private and professional lives. The focus going forward needs to be on pay restoration.”