Surrey Chair: "Officers must be awarded the pay they deserve.”

1 March 2018

“The cost of living has increased, yet Police Officer pay has not increased at the same rate… Officers must be awarded the pay they deserve.”

Those are the words of Surrey Police Federation Chair, Mel Warnes, following the Police Federation of England and Wales submission of a request for a 3.4% increase to Officer pay. The PFEW have also recommended the 1% bonus from last year become consolidated and not form part of this year’s settlement.

Mel said “For the Police Federation of England and Wales to request a 3.4 % pay rise is reasonable and is in line with inflation.

“Since 2010, Officers pay has significantly fallen behind inflation rates. As it stands, Officer pay is 16.5% behind inflation and this has undoubtedly had an impact on officers.

“The cost of living has increased, yet Police Officer pay has not increased at the same rate.

“Surrey is an expensive county to live in any event, however more and more Officers are having to live outside of the county just to be able to make ends meet.”

In the recent PFEW Pay and Morale survey it was revealed that 72.5% of respondents felt financially worse off now than they did five years ago, with more than one in ten stating that they either never or almost never had enough money to cover all their essentials. Mel continues:

“These are the real effects that Police Officers have felt after years of poor pay increases, and they should not suffer any further loss to their income.

“Last year Officers were awarded a pay increase that was not appropriate or proportionate to the job that they do.

“1% was unconsolidated, so to say last year was a 2% increase is simply not correct. Officers must be awarded the pay they deserve.

“Any further suggestion of an unconsolidated rise is unacceptable. This impacts on an officer's stability and the ability to provide for their family.

“It is understandable that Chief Officers find themselves in a difficult place, especially when faced with having to make constant savings. A pay increase above what the NPCC recommends would mean further cuts, however officers must feel that they are receiving an appropriate pay award and that they are supported by their Chief.”