Pay decision ‘insulting’ as Government rejects independent recommendation

17 July 2026

Durham Police Federation has condemned the Government's decision to ignore the independent recommendation on police pay.

Branch secretary Phil Stephenson described the award of a 3.5 per cent pay increase for officers rather than the 3.9 per cent recommended by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) as ‘poor and insulting’.

Phil said it sent out the wrong message to officers who are facing increasing workloads and relentless operational pressures.

He said: “At a time when Durham officers are working harder and more than ever, a pay award below the independent recommendation is poor and insulting.

“Our members continue to go above and beyond every day, often in incredibly difficult circumstances, yet once again they are being asked to accept less than the independent body concluded was appropriate."

 

Phil pointed to the PRRB's own report, which highlighted ‘exploitative’ workplace practices across policing.

The report said: “We note that short-notice rostering, cancelled rest days and disrupted leave are increasingly treated as routine rather than exceptional, with a significant impact on officers’ personal lives and families.

“This exploitation of officers is out of step with a modern, sustainable workforce model and undermines morale, wellbeing and retention.”

Phil said: “That is a significant observation from the PRRB and one that reflects the reality many officers experience.

Outstanding service

"Despite this, officers continue to deliver an outstanding service to the public.

"It makes the decision to ignore the PRRB recommendation all the more difficult to understand.

“Officers are being expected to absorb ever-increasing pressure while receiving a pay award that falls below the level recommended by the independent review process.”

Phil also questioned the long-term credibility of the current police pay mechanism.

Unsustainable

He said: “The way police pay is determined is unsustainable in its current form.

“Police officers rely on an independent process being respected with very limited ways of challenging decisions.

“So when the Government chooses to ignore that independent recommendation without presenting a compelling justification, it is unfair and undermines confidence in the system.

"Our members deserve a pay system they can have confidence in, one that recognises the demands and sacrifices required of modern policing."

Pay erosion

In its evidence to the PRRB, the Police Federation of England and Wales called for a minimum seven per cent pay award in each of the next three years to begin reversing years of real-terms pay erosion and stabilising the service.

The Federation commissioned an online poll of PFEW members conducted between 23 June and 6 July 2026, receiving 4,158 responses.

• 91% of members say a low pay award shows the Government does not respect policing.
• 78% are dissatisfied with their pay. Pay dissatisfaction is consistent across every rank and every force type.

PFEW national secretary John Partington said: “In going against the advice of its own expert pay review body, the Home Office has sent a clear message to police officers that it will ignore the evidence that shows police officers are long overdue a pay award that reflects their service and sacrifice.

Risk their lives

“Police officers risk their lives to protect the public. The Home Office knows exactly the sacrifices the job demands, yet it has ignored independent advice.

“A pay award that barely beats inflation will drive more experienced officers out of policing, make recruitment harder and put the public at risk by weakening public protection.

“The Government found the money to give real pay rises to junior doctors and train drivers. But police pay declined by 22 per cent in real terms between 2010 and 2023, while the rest of the public sector saw its pay go up by 10 per cent.

“It’s clearer than ever before that the Government is controlling the pay review process.

Pay review body membership

“It handpicks the pay review body’s membership and tells them what they’re allowed to consider.

“It’s like a football match where one side selects the opponents’ players and referees the game.

“Even with all that in their favour, the Government has chosen to over-turn the result and fix the outcome.

“The time has come for a proper system of binding arbitration, along with collective pay bargaining, so police can be fairly paid.”

READ MORE: Fed members represent Durham at Bravery Awards.