Government urged to prove its support for police with pay restoration

3 March 2026

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell has called on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to policing by backing proposals to restore officers’ pay.

In its latest submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is urging ministers to approve a minimum seven per cent pay award for officers in each of the next three years.

The Federation says the increase would deliver an ‘essential reset’ after years of real-terms pay erosion - strengthening officer retention, boosting morale, and ensuring forces have the operational capability needed to keep communities safe.

Luke said the proposal would represent a vital step towards pay restoration for officers, who have suffered a real-terms pay cut of more than 20 per cent over the past 15 years.

 

Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP

 

He also challenged Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP to match her recent words of support with decisive action.

Speaking in Parliament while presenting the Police Covenant annual report, the minister said she wanted the police workforce to ‘be in no doubt’ the Government was ‘on your side and will support you’.

Luke said: “All too often our members hear assurances and words of support, but now is the time for the minister and the Government to back them up.

“Our members want to know that support goes beyond statements and is reflected in meaningful action.

Restoring pay

“Accepting PFEW’s proposal and restoring pay would send a clear message that this Government truly is on the side of police officers. It would also go a long way towards improving morale and tackling the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

“For years, officers have seen their pay steadily eroded, leaving many under financial strain and struggling to afford everyday essentials.

“Another real-terms pay cut would be a huge kick in the teeth and would drive even more experienced officers away from the service.

“Now is the moment for the Government to genuinely demonstrate its support for policing.”

The Federation’s report to the PRRB comes after:

• The Government’s remit letter to the PRRB made clear that recommendations must reflect affordability within existing funding settlements; and

• The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) indicated it would support a 3.5 per cent award only if fully funded, falling to 2.5 per cent if it is not. 

PFEW national secretary John Partington said: “If affordability within existing budgets becomes the ceiling for police pay, we are guaranteeing a broken service.

“It is neither fair to officers nor affordable to the public who pay the cost in crime and reduced safety.

Review body

“A properly independent review body must determine what resources proper policing really needs, not simply how much more blood can be squeezed from the stone.

He added that it was disappointing that the NPCC had shown it was ready to accept such a low settlement.

He said: “Officers will be putting their health and their lives on the line this weekend knowing their chiefs are recommending what is in effect a real-terms pay cut.

“Chief constables should be honest with the people they are supposed to lead: they are endorsing another reduction in officers’ living standards, one which has obvious and severe consequences.

“You cannot demand more courage, more resilience and more personal risk while steadily reducing the value of the job.

“Brave and dedicated men and women are leaving policing in record numbers because it no longer pays enough to justify the cost to them and their families.”

Alongside its pay claim, PFEW is calling for structural reform of police remuneration, including the introduction of a military-style ‘P Factor’ recognising the unique risks, restrictions and psychological trauma inherent in policing.

Evidence submitted to the PRRB shows:

• Almost half of all constables have five years’ service or less

• Mental health-related sickness absence is at record levels

• Assaults on officers remain persistently high

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