South East Allowance payment needs review, says Federation Chair

12 November 2025

Officers within the Force should receive an annual allowance of around £5,000 to help meet the high cost of living in the county, according to Hertfordshire Police Federation Chair Luke Mitchell.

Luke says the current allowance, set at £3,000 per year, has failed to keep pace with rising living costs.

He warns that without a significant review and uplift, recruitment and retention within the Force will continue to suffer.

“The allowance was introduced to support recruitment and retention in higher-cost areas, but our location means officers are often drawn to the Met or other forces where housing is cheaper or pay is higher. When the South East Allowance (SEA) was introduced in 2000, it stood at £2,000 and wasn’t increased until recently, when it rose to the current £3,000. The reality is, its value has declined year on year,” Luke said.

Review

“I believe the payment must now be reviewed and increased to £5,000. Officers simply aren’t receiving the financial recognition they deserve for serving in one of the most expensive parts of the country.”

Luke says the issue is even more pressing following the end of the national Police Uplift Programme, which temporarily increased officer numbers but has since been offset by resignations and retirements.

“This decline in officer numbers has to stop,” Luke stressed. “The Uplift Programme helped boost our workforce, but many forces - including ours - are now losing those gains. We face a retention crisis that’s putting increasing pressure on those who remain.”

The South East Allowance was originally introduced to help close the pay gap between forces in and around London, where living costs are significantly higher than elsewhere in the UK.

 

 

However, inflation, high mortgage and rent prices, and fuel costs have eroded its real value.

In 2000, the average UK house price was around £76,250. In Hertfordshire, the average in 2025 is £513,000 - a 572 per cent increase over 25 years.

Council Tax for a typical Band D property was £847 in 2000 but in Hertfordshire this year (2025), it is almost double, at £1,685.75.

Childcare costs have risen from an average of £1.98 per hour in 2000 to £6.67 in Hertfordshire in 2025.

Food and fuel costs have soared too: a litre of unleaded petrol is now £1.34, compared to 80p in 2000. A loaf of bread has risen from 52p to £1.40, and butter from 88p to £2.43.

Soaring costs

Luke says this disparity is driving officers away, with many moving to neighbouring forces offering better pay - particularly the Metropolitan Police Service, where London Weighting and London Allowance can add thousands to annual salaries.

“Like many other forces, Hertfordshire Constabulary has struggled to maintain officer numbers,” Luke continued. “Part of the problem is the draw of the Met, where London weighting far exceeds the South East Allowance. We can’t compete on passion alone - financial realities matter.”

The Federation Chair adds that the issue is about more than pay - it’s about keeping experienced officers who are vital to community safety.

“Some newer officers leave after realising policing isn’t for them,” Luke said. “But we’re also losing seasoned officers with invaluable skills and knowledge because they’re struggling to make ends meet. They can earn more elsewhere, without the dangers, long hours, and emotional toll that policing brings.”

Luke’s call comes as the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) continues its Copped Enough campaign, highlighting the financial struggles faced by rank-and-file officers.

The campaign exposes the impact of years of pay erosion, rising living costs, and the unfair treatment of police pay compared to other public sector roles. It urges the Government to restore fair pay, improve working conditions, and properly recognise officers’ sacrifices. It also calls for urgent reform of the pay review process, which Federation leaders say has failed to protect officers’ incomes after years of below-inflation rises.

Unfair

“The Copped Enough campaign has shone a light on what we’re seeing here in Hertfordshire,” Luke explained. 

“Officers are stretched, stressed, and financially struggling. Many love their job, but the truth is they can’t afford to do it anymore.

“Increasing the South East Allowance would be one tangible way to show officers that their commitment is valued - and that the organisation recognises the pressures they face both at work and at home.”

Luke is urging the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Chief Officer Team to give serious consideration to raising the South East Allowance to £5,000 a year. He believes doing so would send a strong message of support to serving officers and help the Force attract and retain talented recruits.

“We need to value our officers properly,” Luke concluded. “They give so much to keep Hertfordshire safe. Reviewing and increasing the South East Allowance is a practical step that would make a real difference - not just to our officers, but to the communities they serve every day.”

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