New National Chair will continue to fight for increased pay and improved conditions

11 April 2022

Polfed News

The new National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales says he will continue to fight for increased pay and improved conditions of service for the Federation’s 130,000-plus membership.

National Board member Steve Hartshorn was elected by the members and took up the post of PFEW’s National Chair on Friday 1 April.

He said: “I am really looking forward to working with our colleagues in England and Wales. My priority is to continue to build on the important steps we have taken in pushing for improved pay for police officers, as well as improving all their working terms and conditions of service.”

Steve also revealed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP had at last responded to a letter sent by PFEW highlighting the need for independent pay machinery and calling for a pay-rise for police officers.

He added: “As the new National Chair, I will continue to apply whatever pressure is necessary on the Government. Historically governments have recognised the restrictions placed on police officers and were committed to ensuring they would suffer no detriment in terms of pay and conditions. Sadly, that no longer appears to be the case. That deal has been reneged on, but there is an opportunity now to put that right.

“My door is open to the Government to have these vital discussions, and to have a relationship where there is mutual respect. I want open and honest dialogue where we can ask the difficult questions that our members need to hear the answers to. Most importantly, I want to achieve tangible and positive results for police officers in England and Wales.”

Last month, PFEW launched an application for Judicial Review alongside the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association (CPOSA) and the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA).

In July 2021, PFEW withdrew from the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) after recommendations were again disregarded by the Government seeing officers with no uplift in pay despite the efforts and challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Steve added: “Our members have suffered a 20 per cent real-terms cut in their pay since 2010 and this will increase further with costs of living increasing substantially.

“The current pay mechanism is not fit for purpose so we will continue to fight on behalf of police officers in England and Wales. We need independent pay machinery, and we need government to honour in full the recommendations of the pay review body.”

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been elected the next National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales. With this role comes the responsibility of standing up for our members and, working alongside the organisation’s National Board and National Council, I want us to push for policing.

“It is my genuine belief that collectively we can make our voices heard to secure a better deal for policing on pay.”