Officers deserve ‘thank you’ payment says Federation chair

30 January 2021

A call for police officers to receive a ‘thank you’ payment for their work throughout the pandemic has been supported by the chair of Humberside Police Federation.

Pete Musgrave welcomed a joint submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and the Superintendents’ Association in which they called for a three per cent pay increase and the special one-off reward payment.

He said: “Police officers’ dedication to duty and commitment to serving their communities despite the risks posed to them by Covid-19 should absolutely be acknowledged in this way.

“They have remained on the frontline and have worked with the public to try to prevent the spread of the virus which has been challenging due to the number of changes to Government guidelines that we have all had to adapt to.”

Alex Duncan, national Federation secretary, said asking for an increase in officer pay after the public sector pay freeze announcement may seem pointless but was necessary.

He explained: “Police officers have been at the forefront of this pandemic and continue to put themselves and their families at risk, working long hours every day to keep the public safe during these unprecedented times.”

The Federation also questions the Government’s pay freeze decision when the Spending Review awarded forces with budgets to include officers being recognised for their work during the pandemic.

Alex added: “The Home Secretary states in the remit letter that the Government only took that decision in extraordinary circumstances but this is the fifth out of seven PRRB rounds that vital evidence has been completely disregarded, 

“Vital work goes into informing submissions made to the PRRB and it is disheartening to see this being ignored time and time again. You cannot blame us for questioning whether this process is effective.”

The Federation will seek the three per cent pay rise for all officers and a ‘thank you’ payment on the basis that an uplift is feasible and that the private sector has rewarded key workers with a similar payment.