Pay Must Reflect The Challenges Police Officers Face

9 March 2026

Policing is in crisis, and the Government must pay officers properly to stop them leaving in their droves, the Chair of Lancashire Police Federation has said.

Martin Midgley said that he was backing the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)’s call for a minimum 7% annual pay rise for each of the next three years.

In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body for 2026, PFEW said the multi-year pay settlement was essential to improve retention, morale and operational capability. It also called for a raft of improvements to officer conditions, including increased allowances and annual leave.

By contrast, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) is supporting a 3.5% pay rise if it is fully funded by the Government, or a below-inflation 2.5% if it is not.

Martin said: “The Federation is asking the Police Remuneration Review Body for a fair pay rise that recognises the unique nature of policing. The Government needs to recognise the challenges that officers face daily and what is being asked of them.

“According to the Police Covenant, approximately 115 police officers and staff in England and Wales are assaulted every day just for doing their jobs. Officers witness significant amounts of traumatic incidents, while carrying workloads that have increased by 32% per constable since 2015.

“Yet, even knowing these stark figures and the challenges faced by policing, the NPCC is recommending a below-inflation pay rise of 2.5% unless the Government fully funds it. This is a real-terms pay cut to every officer.”

Martin added that, while he acknowledged that Chief Constables were trying to make savings, the police service was wasting millions of pounds on training and equipment for new recruits who leave within a short period of time.

He said: “There is also an increase in officers with years of service leaving policing for better-paid jobs with less pressure and risk. Policing is in crisis. The Government must act to retain new officers and stop experienced officers from leaving in their droves. Pay and conditions are key in this.”

The PFEW is also calling for:

- Full recognition of the ‘P Factor’ in police pay, to properly reflect the risks, restrictions and obligations unique to policing.

- Fewer pay points for PCs to simplify progression and improve competitiveness, including removing the lowest pay points to reflect frontline expectations from day one.

- Increase the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20%, for work between 8pm and 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

- Acting up and temporary promotion payments should be paid from day one and made pensionable.

- The maximum London and South East allowance should be paid as standard.

- Increased annual leave, with any unused leave to be paid.

- A new long-service leave and recuperation leave.

- Workload payments to Inspectors and Chief Inspectors should be extended, with additional pay for hours worked beyond 48 per week, pending a full review of the 1994 PNB Agreement.