Conference 2025: ‘psychological testing required to improve recruitment standards’

18 November 2025

Police pay, conditions of service, recruitment standards and officer protection all need urgent reform, the Federation’s national secretary told delegates at the Police Federation conference.

John Partington emphasised that policing now requires a louder, unified voice to advocate for fairness, transparency and the long-overdue recognition of the responsibilities carried by officers across England and Wales.

He said the Federation had made significant progress toward greater transparency and member engagement over the past year. 

For the first time, members received full sight of the final pay offer before a decision was made - a change the Federation described as ‘how it should be: a two-way conversation, not a closed-door process’.

Critical issues

He said evidence and advocacy presented by the Federation contributed to a 4.2 per cent pay rise, increases to allowances, improved overnight and hardship payments and a commitment to address critical issues such as compensation for extra hours worked, shift disturbance and detective burden.

Later on, John discussed the urgent need for comprehensive, standardised psychological testing for all police recruits across England and Wales.

He stressed that policing is among the most regulated professions in the UK, yet recruitment standards vary widely. 

Psychological testing, he argued, should be ‘a safeguard, not an optional extra’, ensuring candidates possess the temperament, values, emotional readiness and resilience required for modern policing.

He added: “We know what happens when the wrong people get through the door. This cannot happen again. The public deserves officers who are not only capable but also have the integrity and emotional strength to uphold the core principles of the job.

“This job isn’t for everyone. It demands resilience, empathy and strength. These qualities can’t be assumed, they must be tested.”

Financial pressures

Delegates heard stark warnings about worsening financial pressures on frontline officers, including rising housing, energy, food and fuel costs that have far outpaced police pay, leaving many officers struggling to meet basic household expenses

John highlighted the inequity of equal-percentage pay awards, which disproportionately impact lower-paid officers.

He said: “A superintendent and a constable face the same inflation, but not the same reality. Percentage-only rises deepen inequality. Without correction, policing will become unaffordable for the very people who make it work.”

John confirmed that the next pay submission will argue for targeted increases that recognise the unique pressures facing frontline ranks.

Discussing the current pay review body, John argued that the system is ‘not fit for policing’, citing political constraints and lack of independence.

To ensure fairness and remove political interference, the Federation is calling for a move toward collective bargaining and binding arbitration.

Support

An Early Day Motion has been submitted in Parliament, with cross-party support, and the Federation is exploring legal avenues and international labour law implications.

John ended: “Keep underpaying, undervaluing and overloading officers, and more will leave permanently. This Government is pushing policing toward a crisis unless urgent action is taken.

“Policing demands deep knowledge, emotional strength and the courage to hold the line when everything else gives way. Officers deserve pay, conditions and pensions that reflect that burden. We are not asking for special treatment - we are asking for fairness.”