Boss to break pay cap on police staff and PCSOs
THE West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has announced plans to break the public sector pay cap by handing a two per cent pay rise to 3,758 police staff and PCSOs, which has already been handed to police officers.
Downing Street announced in September it was scrapping a one per cent cap on public sector pay rises in order to award a two per cent rise for police officers and a 1.7 per cent increase for prison officers.
David Jamieson said he now planned to match the extra one per cent for all staff that work for West Midlands Police and said the increase would be paid for by imposing another a £5 hike on next year’s council tax bill.
Mr Jamieson said: “Just like officers, staff and PCSOs play a hugely important role in keeping the region safe and deserve the same treatment. That is why I am taking tough decisions to ensure they receive a pay rise too.
“Emergency call handlers make life and death decisions, it is regretful that the government fails to see them as ‘frontline’ workers. In the West Midlands we most certainly recognise the contribution all our staff make to keeping us safe.
“I regret this announcement doesn’t allow me to raise pay in line with inflation for staff, PCSOs and officers, however this shows how much I value the work all our workforce does. I hope by the time of the budget, the government will have put the funding in place to top-up this increase to match inflation.
“I am sure the public will back my decision to ensure fairness across the workforce. In the West Midlands council tax for policing will still be £60 cheaper than surrounding forces. Even after this announcement we will still be the second cheapest force in the country to council tax payers.”
The government’s officer pay increase is not funded centrally and relies on local PCCs to fund it from existing budgets.
Mr Jamieson said another £5 rise in council tax next year would net nearly £5 million, which should pay for the pay rises for both officers and staff.
It’s understood the pay rise for police officers will cost around £3 million and the increase for staff will cost another £1 million.