PNB Agreement: Survey results highlight need for a review

18 February 2025

Key findings from a Police Federation survey of officers of inspecting ranks underline the need for a review of the 1994 Police Negotiating Board (PNB) Agreement.

That’s the view of Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair Simon Riley.

Simon, who is himself an inspector, said the results of the survey, which was conducted in December, demonstrated just how much policing has changed in the three decades since the agreement was introduced.

He said: “It’s now 31 years since the PNB Agreement came into being and a revisit is long overdue.

Branch chair Simon Riley.

“The roles and responsibilities for the inspecting ranks have changed beyond all recognition, as has the environment we work in.

“Inspectors and chief inspectors are working long hours and we're expected to do much more with fewer resources.

"We're often covering senior ranks, being held accountable for performance, standards, and keeping the public safe, and all while not being compensated enough."

Regulations

Since the agreement in 1994, the inspecting ranks have worked under different regulations from constables and sergeants.

The inspecting ranks had their basic pay increased by around £3,000 a year but, in return, were no longer paid casual overtime.

They lost the right to compensation for cancelled rest days and for working on a bank holiday, other than the day being re-rostered.

There is also no right to a shift pattern, unlike constables and sergeants.

Simon said: “We need a review to ensure that an agreement for the inspecting ranks is fit for purpose and reflects the realities of modern policing.”

The PFEW survey found that:

• 60 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with their basic pay, with dissatisfaction higher among Chief Inspectors (70 per cent) than Inspectors (57 per cent)

• 81 per cent of expressed dissatisfaction with their allowances, with dissatisfaction highest in roles like road policing (87 per cent) and investigations (85 per cent)

• 78 per cent of are dissatisfied with their overall remuneration, with dissatisfaction higher among Chief Inspectors (84 per cent) than Inspectors (77 per cent)

• 85 per cent of respondents disagreed with the lack of additional payment for working on public holidays

• 65 per cent disagreed with not receiving extra pay when required to work in another force area (i.e. mutual aid)

• 80 per cent prefer a choice between financial compensation or a rest day in lieu for having to work on a rest day

• During a four week period, 67 per cent of respondents reported working an extra 0-20 hours above 40 hours per week (or above their agreed part-time hours), while 23 per cent work an extra 21-40 hours

• During a four week period, 74 per cent of respondents perform 0-4 days of duties above their rank

• 93 per cent of respondents feel that members in Inspecting ranks working full time should be entitled to a rostered shift pattern within Police Regulations

John Partington, PFEW acting national secretary, has also spoken of his desire for a review of the PNB Agreement. 

He said: “The findings have been included in our pay positioning document that has been made available to the PRRB. 

Inspecting ranks

“This has led to us asking for changes to the regulations that cover the Inspecting ranks.

“I have also raised the PNB 1994 agreement at the Police Advisory Board with the view that no organisation would allow a 31-year-old agreement to still be in place without a review. 

“There doesn’t seem to be any other stakeholder with the view that this does not need to be reviewed.

“However, we will need to see what recommendations are made from the PRRB over the next few months.”

John said that a key area for him was that 30 per cent of respondents reported being paid for working over their agreed part time hours, and only 54 per cent reported that these hours count towards their pension.

Officers

He said: “Of concern is that there seems to be a number of part-time officers in the inspecting ranks who are not claiming the additional hours that they work over their agreed hours.

“It is important that these hours are paid and that they are counted for pensions purposes.

“This is not optional, and forces should be paying the hours and counting them towards an officer’s pension automatically.”

READ MORE: Police officers bottom of the pile on public sector pay says Fed chair.