Pay award is divisive, says Fed chair

1 August 2022

Policing’s average five per cent pay rise is divisive and devalues experienced, long-serving officers, the Police Federation has warned.

National chair Steve Hartshorn said the Government’s announcement of a £1,900 pay rise for all officers had received a mixed reaction among members, many of whom will receive well below the five per cent average.

Steve insisted the Federation would continue to fight for all officers to be treated fairly and receive a proportionate pay increase.

He said:  “Across England and Wales, the feeling is that this award is divisive and devalues those officers longer in service.

“The divide promotes a lack of incentive for promotion and whilst it is right that new recruits should be paid more than they currently are, this should not be to the detriment of other officers which is what the award has achieved.”

He added: “Many outside policing will say that in comparison to other pay awards, this is a good number and that we should be content, but that doesn’t take into account the huge real-terms pay cuts officers have faced. Neither does it take into account that officers cannot strike.”

Steve said the Police Federation shared the anger and frustration of members who feel undervalued, disheartened and let down by the pay award and by the Government.

He said the award was insufficient to cover the cost-of-living crisis and failed to address the real-terms pay cut that police officers have been facing for over a decade.

“The latest PFEW Pay and Morale Survey results highlighted that 99 per cent of officers strongly agreed police deserved a pay rise in line with inflation,” he said.

“The reality is that 99 per cent probably won’t see any benefit from this pay award at all. Most officers will receive far below five per cent, leaving them worse off financially than they were last year with a zero per cent increase due to the current crisis.

“Even for those officers who will receive the top end of the pay award, it will still not be enough to cover the increases in household bills, fuel and groceries.”