Chair Neil Mennie: "The Police Officer pay rise given the current economic position is nowhere near enough."

21 July 2022

All police officers will receive a £1,900 pay rise from 1 September, the Government has announced.

The rise equates to an 8.8% increase for the lowest paid officers – and is equivalent to a 5% overall pay award when all ranks and pay scales are taken into account.

The Home Office said it has accepted the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body in full, saying it reflects “the vital role police officers have on the frontline making our streets safer”.

Neil Mennie, Chair of Kent Police Federation, said: “The pay award that has been announced will come as no surprise to anyone – what might be a surprise is perhaps the method that has been used to apply it.

“Firstly the fact that it was a ‘sum’ rather than a percentage pay increase is divisive. Although it’s quite right that we look after new starters on the lowest pay this will also disenfranchise those more experienced who are also a group of people we need to keep within the service.

“The figure given the current economic position is nowhere near enough. Pay isn’t everything but it’s one of the most important factors when faced with the financial reality of everyday life in a demanding and tiring profession.

“A 20% real term pay cut since 2010 means we have a long way to go to achieving a meaningful increase and with inflation currently climbing. It’s hard to find any positives other than it may be considered a tiny micro step in a slightly better direction.

“I constantly feel that we are patted on the head with one hand and dismissed with the other by those including Government who still don’t get policing and take advantage of our status as crown servants and not being able to directly negotiate on pay.

“No one joined the police expecting to be wealthy but at least to be paid fairly in an ever increasingly depressing environment.”

The Government also announced it has raised the starting salary for officers joining on the Degree Apprentice programme to £23,556 – also from 1 September.

The Dog Handlers’ Allowance will also be increased by 5%.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “It is right that we recognise the extraordinary work of our officers who day in, day out, work tirelessly to keep our streets, communities and country safe.”

In its recommendation to the Government, the PRRB noted concerns about the cost of living on junior ranks.

The Home Office said it would be supporting forces with an additional £350 million over the next three years, from within its existing budget, to help cover the associated costs of the pay award.