Government announces two per cent pay rise

14 September 2017

Police officers are to get a two per cent pay rise, after the Government eased its one per cent cap on public sector pay rises. 

The police and prison officers - who will get a 1.7 per cent increase - are the first to benefit from this move from the Government. 

Nevertheless, national Police Federation chair Steve White said the two per cent increase, which is effective from 1 September this year, would leave many officers "angry and deflated". 

He explained: "Police officers do not join the service to make huge amounts of money; they do it out of a sense of duty and this year in particular have been tested to the max. However, they expect to be paid suitably for the immensely demanding role they perform and this simply is not the case."

The two per cent award is a one per cent pensionable pay rise across the board, plus one per cent as an extra amount this year, non-pensionable.

"We asked for 2.8 per cent and provided compelling evidence to support this, which on first review appears to be reflected in the recommendations made by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) - the body which makes recommendations on police pay - to the Government. We were not greedy in what we asked for. Officers have been taking home about 15 per cent less than they were seven years ago. While it is a step in the right direction, the Government should have done this sooner but we don't feel that non-consolidated pay awards are the way forward."

The Federation will now be looking closely at the details in the PRRB report and will provide a further update as to what other recommendations have been made as soon as possible.