Police pay award ignores realities of frontline policing, says branch secretary

16 July 2026

North Yorkshire Police Federation secretary Tony Barnes has spoken of his ‘extreme disappointment’ after the government announced a 3.5 per cent pay award for officers.

Tony warned that the increase fails to properly value the unique role officers perform or the risks they face every day.

And he said it would do little to recruit and retain officers.

Tony said: “Police officers carry out one of the most demanding jobs in public service.

“Every day they face danger, trauma and uncertainty, putting themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe.

 

 

“However, once again they are rewarded with a pay settlement that fails to properly recognise the sacrifices officers and their families make, which is extremely disappointing.

“Once inflation and tax thresholds are taken into account, it barely represents a pay rise at all.

"Unlike most other professions, police officers cannot withdraw their labour.

“They are expected to respond to whatever confronts them, whether that is violent offenders, fatal collisions, mental health crises or terrorist incidents.

“They deserve a pay system that reflects those responsibilities and the risks they face.

Declining pay

"It is particularly frustrating to see other public sector professions such as resident doctors receiving significantly higher pay settlements while police officers continue to fall further behind after more than a decade of declining pay.

“MPs have received a five per cent award.

"If we want to recruit and retain experienced officers, we have to demonstrate that policing is valued.

“Fair pay is not simply about rewarding officers it is about protecting the future of policing and ensuring the public continues to receive the service they deserve."

In its response to the announcement, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) criticised the government's decision to ignore the recommendations of the independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB).

Pay review body

PFEW National Secretary John Partington said: “In going against the advice of its own expert pay review body, the Home Office has sent a clear message to police officers that it will ignore the evidence that shows police officers are long overdue a proper pay rise.

“This is a pay rise on paper only, not in officers' pockets.

“Once inflation, higher pension contributions and frozen tax thresholds are taken into account, the average police officer will be no better off in real terms than before.

“Police officers risk their lives to protect the public. The Home Office knows exactly the sacrifices the job demands, yet it has ignored independent advice.

“A pay award that barely beats inflation will drive more experienced officers out of policing, make recruitment harder and put the public at risk by weakening public protection.

Public sector

“The government found the money to give real pay rises to junior doctors and train drivers. But police pay declined by 22 per cent in real terms between 2010 and 2023, while the rest of the public sector saw its pay go up by 10 per cent.

“It’s clearer than ever before that the government is controlling the pay review process.

“It handpicks the pay review body’s membership and tells them what they’re allowed to consider.

“It’s like a football match where one side selects the opponents’ players and referees the game.

“Even with all that in their favour, the Government has chosen to over-turn the result and fix the outcome.

“The time has come for a proper system of binding arbitration, along with collective pay bargaining, so police can be fairly paid.”

READ MORE: 'Great to get some special recognition' says Bravery Award nominee.