Met chief ‘right’ to call for 10 per cent police pay uplift

27 February 2023

Gwent Police Federation chair Matthew Candy has given his backing to comments by the head of the Metropolitan Police, that officers must be given a pay award that keeps pace with inflation - currently running at just above 10 per cent.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, fired a warning to the Government this week that he would not be able to meet recruitment targets, or hold on to existing officers, unless police pay was increased to match cost of living pressures.

Matthew commented: “We welcome Sir Mark’s comments – he is dead right. Police pay has fallen by 20 per cent for most officers in the last decade - and by more for some on the lowest pay scales, and with inflation still stratospheric we’ve never had it so bad. We can see why colleagues are saying it’s a struggle just to put food on the table.

“Even if forces are able to meet their recruitment targets, there is no way to retain officers and avoid the ‘revolving door’ effect, unless police officers are properly paid. The job is stressful enough without the added pressure of money worries.”

Last year, officers received an average five per cent increase (still well below inflation) and in the Home Office’s submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) this year, it notes that funding provided through the 2023/24 police funding settlement is higher than agreed at Spending Review 2021, which included a provisional assumption of a two per cent pay increase.

The submission goes on to say that its assessment is “there is scope for forces to budget up to a 3.5 per cent pay award” so long as efficiencies are achieved.

The Police Federation of England and Wales no longer makes a submission to the PRRB, having withdrawn and called for the process to be replaced with a “truly independent” body.