Surrey Police Federation reacts to the National Insurance rise - on top of pay freeze
12 September 2021
“Some officers are finding it hard to make ends meet… This just shows what the Government thinks of police officers.”
This is Surrey Police Federation Chair Melanie Warnes’ reaction to the news that the Government is increasing National Insurance contributions, on top of this year’s police pay freeze.
The 1.25% rise in National Insurance, which the Government says is needed to pay for health and social care, follows a 0% pay rise for police officers, which is effectively a pay cut in real terms.
Melanie said: “The NI increase now means that police officers will suffer a pay decrease; many of them will now be hundreds of pounds worse off every year. Some officers are finding it hard to make ends meet on top of a pay freeze and now what can only be described as a pay decrease. This just shows what the Government thinks of police officers.
“In real terms, police pay is 9% less than in 2010. Police deserve fair pay for the job they do.”
Other public sector workers have received a pay rise this year, while police officers earning over £24,000 received 0%. This amounts to a real-terms cut in pay, especially as inflation is at 2%.
John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) tweeted: “After more than a decade of pay caps and pay freezes, now an increase of NI, police officers will be seeing a significant cut to their pay at a time when they are at breaking point, many already broken. Policing is underfunded and undervalued by this Government.”
He continued: “After stepping up during the pandemic, facing the abuse, the assaults, working in hospitals, driving ambulances, removing bodies from homes, policing almost unenforceable legislation, this is their thanks. The Government has lost the trust of my colleagues.”
