Kent Police Federation Chair reacts to news that police officer pay will be "paused" for the next year

25 November 2020

A pay rise for police officers is to be "paused" next year the Chancellor has told the House of Commons today.

"I cannot justify an across the board pay increase for all public sector workers," Rishi Sunak said.

Doctors and nurses to still get a pay rise. Those in the public sector earning under £24,000 will still get pay rise of at least £250 he tells Parliament.

Mr Sunak did tell MPs that “pay progressions and promotions will carry on” in the public sector which should refer to police officers who receive/are scheduled to receive incremental rises.

Neil Mennie, Chairman of Kent Police Federation, said: “This hasn’t come as a surprise given it already had the air of something that had already been decided a while ago. Whilst we must recognise the difficulties many face in finding or securing employment that shouldn’t mean public sector pay should suffer.

“In real terms a pause will quickly become more of a rewind and paying the inevitable COVID bill should be equitable and affordable for everybody.

“It will be hard to understand how some are ‘more in it together’ than others and now we can only hope that pause means a short period of time.”

Parliament heard how £400+ million will be provided to recruit 6,000 police officers Mr Sunak added. "Well on track to recruit 20,000."

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds referenced how hollow the Chancellor "clapping for carers" during the first lock down now was.

She added: “Firefighters, police officers and teachers will know their spending power is going down… many key workers who took on so much responsibility during this crisis are now being forced to tighten their belts.”

She compared this to the “bonanza” for private companies who have won PPE contracts from the Government this year.