Below-Inflation Pay Proposal Is ‘Insulting’

9 April 2026

The Government’s proposed 2.5% police pay rise does not reflect the dangers officers face and the sacrifices they make, the Chair of Sussex Police Federation has said.

Raffaele Cioffi was speaking after the Home Office told the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) that a below-inflation police pay award of just 2.5% was “fair” if no new money was provided. This mirrors the position of the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

But the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has called for a minimum 7% pay rise in each of the next three years to restore police pay, improve morale, and address recruitment and retention challenges.

Raffaele said: "It's frankly insulting to offer officers 2.5% and call it fair. Who is it fair to, the Home Office spreadsheet? This doesn't balance the reality officers face out on the streets and the sacrifices made. Since 2010, officers have already paid the price with their pay falling behind.

“Asking for a 7% increase isn't just a number, it's about restoring fairness to those on the frontline. We need to bridge the pay degradation gap that sits at 21%. A truly independent pay process should recognise who bears the real cost, and that's the officers putting their lives on the line to protect the public."