Bruised police call for respect ... plus pay rise
BATTERED police officers have demanded more respect – and better pay.
After two years during which staff were vilified for enforcing Covid rules and overlooked in a public sector wage rise, they have warned ministers time is running out.
The new head of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) said since 2010 officers had had a 20 per cent real-terms pay cut. Steve Hartshorn added: “Police pay is a legitimate concern that will have a knock-on effect to public safety through retention of both experienced and newly recruited police officers.”
On the eve of the federation’s Manchester conference under the slogan Fighting for Fairness, he added: “If pay and conditions remain poor and the Government continues to ignore policing as a key emergency service, it is the public who suffer direct consequences.
“This disparity will further increase with the rapid rise in costs of living.”
The federation’s demands to Home Secretary Priti Patel include: a real-terms wage increase to reflect the demands and dangers of the role, an independent pay mechanism with binding recommendations, to be treated “on par” with other emergency services workers, and a “reset” of the relationship with ministers.
The average UK salary is £38,131 but constables begin on £21,402. It claims some members use food banks while more than three-quarters of police say they have mental health or wellbeing difficulties.
Ms Patel aims to attract 20,000 more police by 2023 – 13,576 have joined the 43 forces, making 142,526 serving officers.
The Home Office denied there was “a deteriorating relationship”, adding: “It is the role of the Police Remuneration Review Body to consider and make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay.”