Warnings post Budget that by 2031 every police officer will pay tax at 40%

9 December 2025

Andy Symonds, Chair of Norfolk Police Federation, said: "My hardworking colleagues have suffered continual degradation of their pay and conditions since 2010.

"They’ve been subjected to pay freezes, increment freezes and truly awful pay awards over recent years. This is why police officers are left with stark fact that their pay has 20% less purchasing power than it was 15 years ago. Now officers are faced with the shocking reality that both Constables and Sergeants will all be dragged into paying the higher rate tax of 40% within the next 6 years.

"This is more bad news heaped on many years of austerity for police officers and their pay and conditions. Officers don’t ever join to make themselves rich. They join as it’s a vocation and not simply just a job. But what they do expect is to be treated fairly when it comes to their pay and conditions and not taken advantage of, which they no doubt have been for many years now.

"Now they face the reality that they will be subject of higher rate tax within 6 years. This higher rate tax was never part of the deal when it comes to that social contract. Higher rate tax was never envisaged to impact the police officers who are the ‘workers’ delivering the service to our communities. Yes, it should apply and does to more senior officers who are earning at a higher rate. But for it now to apply to my colleagues is just another nail in the coffin of their take home pay.

"This will impact of those experienced officers who we a desperate to retain for their skills and knowledge. And its another reason that will be added to the CONS list of remaining a police officer. And let me tell those in power that the CON list is ever growing and has many more on this list than the PRO list.

"This is why we’re seeing record numbers nationally of police officers leaving the service. Therefore, we need the Government to change direction on this higher rate tax rate as well as agreeing to our demands of a fairer and truly independent process for police officer pay and conditions. We need a seat at the negotiating table when it comes to police officers and our pay and conditions."

https://polfed.org/news/latest-news/2025/bobbies-beaten-by-the-budget-by-2031-every-police-officer-will-pay-tax-at-40/