Pay award does little to solve policing's recruitment and retention crisis, says chair

20 July 2026

This year's police pay award does little to address the growing challenge of retaining experienced officers and attracting the workforce policing needs for the future, Suffolk Police Federation has warned.

Branch chair Darren Harris said the Government's decision to award a 3.5 per cent increase instead of following the Police Remuneration Review Body's (PRRB) recommendation of 3.9 per cent failed to recognise the realities facing forces, where recruitment, retention and officer wellbeing are significant concerns.

Darren said the Government said that by ignoring the PRRB recommendation the Government had again undermined confidence in the pay review process.

He said: “The Government has once again focused on what it can afford rather than what police officers deserve.

“The PRRB considered the evidence and concluded that a 3.9 per cent award was justified.

“Yet the Government has chosen to ignore that evidence and impose a lower figure.

“That raises serious questions about the credibility and fairness of the current pay review process.”

Suffolk Police Federation chair chair Darren Harris

Darren said the PRRB’s report recognised the significant challenges policing faces in attracting and retaining talented officers, as well as the importance of supporting officer wellbeing and resilience.

He said: “"Like many forces, we went for a long period with limited recruitment before the Police Uplift Programme brought in a significant number of new officers.

“We now have a workforce with a relatively high proportion of officers who have less than five years' service, and we're finding it increasingly difficult to retain that talent.

“Once they understand the realities of the role and the skills they possess, many realise those skills are valued elsewhere.

“If we want to keep good officers, we have to recognise their worth.”

Work-life balance

Darren said the pay award also failed to address the growing impact of workload pressures on officers' wellbeing and work-life balance.

He said: “The PRRB report highlights wellbeing and work-life balance as key issues, but the reality is that many officers simply don't have that balance.

“Officers should be able to live on their basic salary without feeling they have to work on their rest days to make ends meet.

“Rest days should be for recovery, not routinely cancelled because of operational demand. That isn't sustainable for individuals or for the service.”

Industrial rights

Darren also pointed to the unique restrictions placed on police officers, including the absence of industrial rights and no right to strike.

He said: “Police officers cannot withdraw their labour in the way that many other professions can.

“I think it's telling that the doctors and the train drivers have been able to get a better pay award, because they have industrial rights and we don't.

“A higher pay award would at least have acknowledged the unique responsibilities and restrictions that come with the office of constable.”

Rethink and reset

Darren said the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister was an opportunity for the Government to “rethink and reset” on policing.

He urged Burnham and the new Home Secretary to read three recent publications – the Government White Paper on a new policing model, the Police Leadership Commission’s report on leadership in policing, and last week’s PRRB report – to understand the issues facing policing.

He said: “With Andy Burnham coming into number 10, I think it's a time for a reset and a rethink.

“If we are to undergo the biggest redesign of policing in 60 years then we need to attract appropriate people to deliver that change.

“Pay is a vital part of that conversation. If we want to attract and keep the best people, they need to feel that their professionalism and sacrifice are properly valued."

Diary

July 2026