“How can it be right that police officers struggle to put a roof over their head and food on the table?"

10 October 2023

The ‘P factor’ that describes the unique challenges of policing should be front and centre of future decisions about officer pay, Greater Manchester Police Federation has said.

Chair Mike Peake was responding to comments by PFEW Secretary Calum Macleod at the PFEW Annual Conference today.

Calum told conference, which this year is being held virtually, “How can it be right that police officers struggle to put a roof over their head and food on the table? [The job] should be remunerated properly.”

The PFEW withdrew from the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) in 2021, but the national Federation has said that officer pay remains one of its top priorities.

And Mike said: “Police pay remains a constantly emotive subject. Policing is a vocation like no other that carries a great deal of risk. I’m pleased to hear PFEW General Secretary Calum Macleod say pay will remain a top priority for PFEW.

“Whilst I acknowledge the difficulties in the PRRB process and that a fairer and transparent system would be beneficial to all police officers, I don’t think we can sit back and wait for that to happen.

“I’m sure the PRRB are keen to highlight the issues around the ‘P factor’ that makes policing such a unique job.

“It is essential that police officers get appropriately paid for the risk they face day in and day out, so it’s my view that the PFEW should offer as much information and education around what that means.

“In turn, that would result in a more informed and accurate recommendation for next year’s police pay offer.”