Government announces seven per cent pay rise for police officers

13 July 2023

Police officers are to receive pay rises of seven per cent across all ranks after the Government accepted the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB). 

Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair Simon Riley described the increase as a “step in the right direction”.

He said: “It is pleasing to see that the Government has accepted in full, the recommendations of the PRRB but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that this award still fails to take account of the real term cut of 17 per cent that our members have suffered since 2000. 

“There will be some mixed feelings amongst our membership with this award.  

“It is the best pay award they have received in many a year but it still fails to take account of inflation and the current pressures of higher interest rates, soaring mortgage repayments and the increased cost of living that they are subject to.

“As a branch, we will continue to support the national board’s efforts to push for fair pay awards that take full account of inflation and recognise and reward the unique status of police officers, including the introduction of a fair, independent pay mechanism and negotiation process. 

“Moving forward, the Police Federation needs to be able to properly sit down with ministers and forces to negotiate pay settlements that fully consider the risks and restrictions placed on police officers’ private and professional lives. The focus going forward needs to be on pay restoration.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ruled out borrowing to fund police pay

Simon said the Government should provide additional cash so chief constables do not have to cut essential frontline services although Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ruled out extra borrowing to fund the pay increases amid fears of stoking inflation and that could mean forces having to make savings elsewhere.

Mr Hunt told MPs it was “important to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priority to get debt falling and to control borrowing to avoid adding inflationary pressures and risk prolonging higher inflation”.

He said: “That means taking difficult but responsible decisions on the public finances, including public sector pay, because more borrowing is itself inflationary.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen said the police pay rise would be partly covered by increasing the cost of certain visas by up to 20 per cent to create more funding for border forces, allowing the Home Office to divert some money towards police officer pay.