Federation response to 2.5% pay award

29 November 2007

Earlier today we received a copy of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal’s decision on police pay for the UK’s 170,000 police officers. Both the Official Side and Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) are bound by the decision, which consequently becomes a PNB agreement. This is then referred to the respective UK Secretaries of State for ratification or variation. In England and Wales we are waiting to hear from the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP.
 
The following is a response from the Police Federation of England and Wales Chairman Jan Berry to today’s news:
 
Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:
 
“When you consider the dangers police officers face on a daily basis and the fact that we cannot take industrial action, 2.5% is extremely disappointing. However, we entered the arbitration process knowing we would be bound by its decision. We will be closely examining the arbiters’ views and conclusions and considering what future action we need to take.
 
“In effect this is a pay cut, which fails to recognise our unique status as Officers of the Crown who cannot strike and have restrictions on our public and private lives.
 
“Police officers have been waiting for this increase since September, so I am calling upon the Home Secretary to immediately ratify the arbitration decision so that officers receive their pay rise as soon as possible. They need your support Home Secretary, not another slap in the face.
 
“The irony for the 140,000 officers I represent is that we hear this news on the very day the Home Secretary stands up at a police conference and announces so-called improvements to policing by further ring fencing funding exclusively for PCSOs; police staff who can take strike action.“ 


For further information please contact the Police Federation of England and Wales press office on 020 8335 1000.

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