Pay Must Reflect The Challenges Police Officers Face

3 March 2026

Officer pay must reflect the challenging, demanding and dangerous nature of policing, the Chair of Gloucestershire Police Federation has said.

Adam Williams was speaking after the Police Federation of England and Wales called for a minimum 7% annual pay rise for each of the next three years.

In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body for 2026, PFEW said the multi-year pay settlement was essential to improve retention, morale and operational capability. It also called for a raft of improvements to officer conditions, including increased allowances and annual leave.

By contrast, the National Police Chiefs’ Council is supporting a 3.5% pay rise if it is fully funded by the Government, or a below-inflation 2.5% if it is not.

Adam said: “Police officers require a level of pay that genuinely reflects the challenging roles they perform daily, especially at a time when we are working under more pressure than ever before. Shockingly, a police officer is assaulted every 10 minutes across the UK; meanwhile demand is increasing and officers are burnt out.

“Fair and appropriate remuneration is essential to not just recruit but also retain the best officers. Without meaningful improvements to pay and conditions, we risk losing more dedicated and experienced officers, which will further impact the wellbeing of those that remain.

“Our officers step forward every day to carry out roles nobody else is expected to do, under a huge amount of pressure and scrutiny. Their pay must properly recognise their commitment and the uniquely demanding environment in which they serve.”

The PFEW is also calling for:

- Full recognition of the ‘P Factor’ in police pay, to properly reflect the risks, restrictions and obligations unique to policing.

- Fewer pay points for PCs to simplify progression and improve competitiveness, including removing the lowest pay points to reflect frontline expectations from day one.

- Increase the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20%, for work between 8pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

- Acting up and temporary promotion payments should be paid from day one and made pensionable.

- The maximum London and South East allowance should be paid as standard.

- Increased annual leave, with any unused leave to be paid.

- A new long-service leave and recuperation leave.

- Workload payments to Inspectors and Chief Inspectors should be extended, with additional pay for hours worked beyond 48 per week, pending a full review of the 1994 PNB Agreement.