A rise in Police Federation subs has not been welcomed by Humberside Police Federation Chair

20 May 2022

A rise in Police Federation subs has not been welcomed by Humberside Police Federation Chair Lee Sims, who described it as the wrong move at the wrong time. 

Federation subs will go up in line with any Police Officer pay rise that is approved/introduced in the autumn, following a vote this week at the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Annual Conference in Manchester. 

In a motion put before conference, figures released by the national Police Federation revealed that 221 delegates voted for a rise in subscription costs, with 170 voting against.

The National Federation said it needed to put up costs due to soaring inflation, upcoming litigation and the financial health of its National Reserves Fund.

Lee Sims, Chair at Humberside Police Federation, said he opposed the move: "This is coming at the wrong time. Only earlier this week we were telling the Home Secretary that around the country we have officers using  food banks, applying for payday loans and borrowing money from friends and family to pay for petrol and then the next minute we’re raising their subs. I really do think it’s the wrong time.”

Issues of pay and conditions dominated the conference, as delegates told the Home Secretary that many of their members were struggling to make ends meet. Officer pay has fallen 20% behind the cost of living, and they haven’t had a pay increase since 2020.

Lee added: “I personally voted against it. I can appreciate why the national Federation want to do it due to the financial health of its reserve, and raising the subscriptions will undoubtably continue to give the members a service they deserve

“But I do believe we should have maybe waited a year for things to level out with regards to inflation, and also give us time to prepare our members for what’s coming with the increase.”

Lee concluded: “I also want to remind all Humberside Police officers that if any of them are struggling financially to please contact the Federation who will be more than willing to help.”