Police pay crisis: situation still ‘woeful’

20 July 2022

The situation with police pay remains “woeful” despite the Government’s announcement of an average five per cent pay rise for officers yesterday, says West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke.

Rich said he was pleased the Government had taken seriously the Federation’s representations on behalf of young in service officers who have really struggled with the cost of living crisis.

“This award is stacked more in favour of them, rightly so,” says Rich, “But this is an effective pay cut across all ranks and spinal points. We are losing experienced and skilled officers hand over fist due to the vast loss in the value of our pay, as well as the slashing of our pensions - which is part of our overall package.

“In the medium and longer term, we need to see successive real-term increases in police pay as well as fair pension scheme amendments this year.

“This is better than I expected but, in the context of everything we have seen over the last decade or more, the situation remains woeful. It’s difficult to be positive when my members continue to experience remuneration levels well below what they deserve.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) said the Government announcement yesterday that police officers would get a pay award of £1,900 from 1 September 2022 is positive news for those young in service and new joiners, but is more disappointing for those longer in service and in supervisory ranks who are also struggling financially.

National chair Steve Hartshorn said the Government’s pay award was a “small first step” in repairing relationships between ministers and hard-working police officers. The pay increase, he said, would help in bridging the gap between household incomes and the current cost of living.

“Officers have already faced two years of a blanket pay freeze, a 20 per cent real term pay cut since 2010, and now huge additional cost of living pressures. The average five per cent settlement announced today is still below inflation, and PFEW believes the Government ‘still has a long way to go’ to demonstrate it is treating officers with the dignity and respect they deserve. This is only a small first step forward in regaining their trust,” Steve explained.

“It is disappointing that the pay increase is not good news for all officers, negatively affecting those in higher ranks. It’s in the Government’s direct interest to ensure that all police officers are paid properly and can pay their bills. If they don’t, retaining the high-quality officers our country needs - and this Government promised - will be doomed to fail.

“PFEW has worked, and will continue to work, for better work conditions for all our members.”