Minister urges Federation to re-engage with pay review body

13 February 2023

Policing minister Chris Philp has warned Hertfordshire Police Federation that this year’s pay award will “need to strike a careful balance” and urged national officials to re-engage with the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB).

Mr Philp’s comments came after branch chair Luke Mitchell raised concerns over pay and conditions through Hertford and Stortford MP Julie Marson.

In a letter to Ms Marson, the minister said: “I would like to start by assuring Mr Mitchell that the Government recognises the dedication and professionalism of our police. 

“We continue to support the police and give them the resources they need to protect the public, including our commitment to recruiting an additional 20,000 officers by March 2023.”

Responding to Luke’s questions about police pay in the midst of the cost of living crisis, Mr Philp called on the Police Federation to re-engage with the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB).

“We value its independent and expert advice,” he said, “As police officers are ‘office holders’, rather than employees, the law prohibits them from taking industrial action, such as striking. 

“This was a significant consideration in establishing the PRRB and its terms of reference require the body to take account of the restrictions on police officers when considering pay and conditions.

“I strongly encourage the Police Federation to engage with the pay review process to ensure that its members’ views are fully represented.”

Mr Philp defended the 2021/22 pay-freeze saying it was the result of the impact of Covid-19 on the economy, labour market and fiscal position and said the decision was taken to protect jobs and ensure fairness across the public sector.

He continued: “In July 2022, the Government announced that it had accepted the recommendations of the PRRB in full. 

“This awarded a consolidated increase of £1,900 to all police officer pay points for all ranks from 1 September 2022, equivalent to 5 per cent overall.”

Looking ahead, the minister warned pay awards this year would “need to strike a careful balance between recognising the vital importance of public sector workers, whilst delivering value for the taxpayer”.

He added: “They must not increase the country’s debt further and must be careful not to drive even higher prices in the future through contributing to a wage/price spiral.”

Mr Philp said he looked forward to continuing to work constructively with policing and ensuring they have the resources and powers they need to fight crime and protect the public.

Luke said he was disappointed with the policing minister’s response to the issues he had raised.

He said: “Police officers have been hit the hardest with 10 years of pay freezes, or one per cent increases. 

“It was only last year that we were awarded a £1,900 increase but for the vast amount of officers that worked through the previous 10 years of pay cuts it was essentially a 3 per cent pay increase while inflation was sitting at 12 per cent.

“The expectation that police officers and public service workers have to constantly take the hit to manage the country's debt is unfair. How is it fair that oil companies are making record profits while we’re being expected to take constant pay cuts?”

Luke rejected the minister’s claims that the PRRB was independent and said its decision to stop working with the organisation was unlikely to change until reform had been announced.

He said: “The Government has constantly directed PRRB to a maximum figure and that has often been just one per cent. That is why we walked away.

“Police officers have been the most affected by the awful public sector pay awards over the last 12 years because we don’t have the right to strike and are seen by the Government as easy pickings. 

“This simply can’t continue. It’s evidently clear that people are leaving policing at all levels of service.