Federation backs NPCC letter on officer pay

5 August 2021

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris has welcomed the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) stepping into the pay row which sparked a Federation vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel.

NPCC chair Martin Hewitt has written to Ms Patel on behalf of all chief officers after she confirmed a pay freeze on officers earning more than £24,000-a-year.

The letter states: “Taken together with the continuing effects of a decade of austerity around officers’ pay, there is no question that properly rewarding our incredible people is now a significant issue of concern for chief constables. 

“We simply believe they deserve better and that it is the responsibility of Government to address this across the forthcoming spending period.” 

It continues: “For many it feels unfair and that their contribution is undervalued. And, unlike other parts of the public service, officers do not have the option of industrial action to make their case more strongly.

“As the Government makes spending decisions over coming months, we urge you to fund a settlement which properly reflects the important and complex work police officers do, and starts to address the pay shortfall.”

Darren said: “Officers feel angry and let down by the Government; a Government made up ministers who have repeatedly spoken of their support for police officers and yet have not always backed up their warm words with actions.

“As was seen with the failure of the Government to give officers any priority in the vaccine roll-out programme, officers are becoming increasingly angry and frustrated that their commitment to maintaining effective policing services while rising to the challenges presented by the pandemic have not been properly recognised.

“We really appreciate the NPCC getting behind officers on this issue, spelling out their concerns and asking for a re-think from Government.

“Let’s hope the Government takes note of what the Federation and now the NPCC are saying. It needs to take steps to rebuild the fractured relationship with policing.”