Kent Police Federation reacts to General Election result

5 July 2024

The new Government needs to implement a fairer method of deciding police pay, as well as ensuring that officers can be focused on the most vital work, the Chair of Kent Police Federation has said.

Neil Mennie said: “The dawn of a new Government represents an opportunity for change. Policing now needs to be prioritised, rather than talked about in terms of soundbites and more officers. Of course more officers and PCSO colleagues are welcome, but they also need to be trained, invested in and well-looked after, to ensure there is better retention.

“Ironically, due to the current method of police funding, our force had to reduce the number of PCSOs in order to make savings. This was also due, in part, to the way the uplift funding was applied and the financial consequences for not meeting it.”

There also needed to be a “much better” independent method of deciding police pay and conditions, Neil said, otherwise “we can expect to see more and more colleagues leaving policing for greener pastures”.

He continued: “There is also the issue of what policing should and shouldn’t be doing. The Government needs to make some firm decisions and invest in other agencies and the wider criminal justice system, allowing the police to be more focused and reducing officer workload.

“Let’s hope that this change leads to better things for policing – and reasonably soon.”