‘Inspector survey results will drive conversations with Force’ says Fed

28 February 2025

Ben Hudson was speaking after a nationwide survey revealed that two thirds of inspectors work up to 20 hours a week over their working hours during a four-week period.

The survey revealed three fifths (60 per cent) of respondents said they were dissatisfied with their basic pay, with dissatisfaction higher among chief inspectors (70 per cent) than inspectors (57 per cent).

More than eight out of ten (81 per cent) expressed dissatisfaction with their allowances, with dissatisfaction highest in roles like road policing (87 per cent) and investigations (85 per cent).

Branch secretary Ben Hudson.

A total of 85 per cent of respondents disagreed with the lack of additional payment for working on public holidays, with a higher proportion of disagreement among roles such as the central communications unit (91 per cent) and custody (90 per cent).

“We support the findings of the survey, and are very much aware of the demands faced by our members in inspector ranks within Suffolk,” said Ben, who is also chair of the Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum.

Inspectors

“Rest assured, we will be using the results of this survey to drive further conversation around the additional working hours of chief inspectors and inspectors, with the Chief Constable and senior managers within the Force.

“Our main concern locally is the amount of additional hours many of our chief inspectors and inspectors are regularly working. Our concern is that they are potentially breaching working time regulations. This is because they are working significantly more hours than they should be over a seventeen-week period.”

Ben is urging members to reach out to the Federation if they feel they are regularly being expected to work more hours than their set working hours, and are not able or feel they are not able to manage their hours accordingly.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of my colleagues in inspector roles who have expressed their concerns. A lot of the time, they feel that they are unable to manage their additional hours effectively but taking time off. As this just means that their workloads build up” continued Ben.

Burnout

“They feel that one day taken off is another day of work not being down.

“For me, this is a serious problem, which could - and has - ultimately led to burnout and welfare issues.”

Ben argued that the inspectors’ regulations must revisited, as the last changes were now outdated and what business or industry would leave working arrangements for 30 years without review.

He explained that on 1 September 1994, the environment in which the inspecting ranks worked within the police service changed beyond recognition. It was on that day that the ‘new conditions of working for inspectors and chief inspectors’ were agreed by the now defunct Police Negotiating Board (PNB), and with it the entitlements to payment for all over-time and working on public holidays and rest days were removed - except cancelled annual leave where payment is still an option.

“The survey has highlighted the need for this to be looked at and revised urgently,” Ben said.

Wellbeing

“If chief inspectors and inspectors are not able to take the time off they deserve, then this will undoubtedly have an impact on not only their mental wellbeing but their performance at work.

“Demand, expectations and the pressures on chief inspectors and inspectors are too high, and this needs to be addressed.”

The survey of inspectors and chief inspectors was carried out by the Police Federation of England and Wales during 2024 and the full details are being collated.

The initial results have been included in a Federation pay positioning document that has been made available to the Police Remuneration Review Body, the organisation that makes recommendations to the Government on police pay awards.

The Federation is seeking changes to the regulations that cover the inspecting ranks, in the light of the survey’s findings.