Federation Chair: Police pay freeze shows Government to be shallow and superficial

25 November 2020

A pay rise for police officers is to be "paused" next year the Chancellor has told the House of Commons today.

"I cannot justify an across the board pay increase for all public sector workers," Rishi Sunak said.

Doctors and nurses to still get a pay rise. Those in the public sector earning under £24,000 will still get pay rise of at least £250 he tells Parliament.

Mr Sunak did tell MPs that “pay progressions and promotions will carry on” in the public sector which should refer to police officers who receive/are scheduled to receive incremental rises.

Mel Warnes, Chair of Surrey Police Federation, said “I realise savings are needed to be made by the Government, however police are already seeing an 18% real pay cut over the last 10 years.

“The positive behaviour and words towards key workers displayed by the Chancellor and other Government officials during the pandemic now show them to be shallow and superficial.

“The police have had a very difficult time in policing the ever-changing guidance on top of the high demand of the normal day job.

“Officers have sacrificed time with their families, living away from them in order to protect the vulnerable and continue policing in the height of the pandemic.

“I hope this “pause” is a pause and not something that will look like a pay freeze that has been experienced previously.”

Mel added: “A small handful of officers who are on the lowest pay scale will benefit from a £250 pay increase which I am pleased about, but I do not think this will go towards the massive recruitment that is still needed to meet the 20,000 extra police officers the Government has promised. There is a struggle to recruit life experienced people as they cannot afford to join the police, taking a pay cut and with a prospect of no pay increases this will not get any better.”

Parliament heard how £400+ million will be provided top recruit 6,000 police officers Mr Sunak added. "Well on track to recruit 20,000."

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds referenced how hollow the Chancellor "clapping for carers" during the first lock down now was.

She added: “Firefighters, police officers and teachers will know their spending power is going down… many key workers who took on so much responsibility during this crisis are now being forced to tighten their belts.”

She compared this to the “bonanza” for private companies who have won PPE contracts from the Government this year.