Pay and Morale Survey: 89% of Humberside Police officers do not feel respected by the Government

18 February 2022

89% of Humberside Police officers say they do not currently feel respected by the Government with 38% worrying about their finances every day.

The new figures from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) 2021 Pay and Morale Survey come after 12 years of pay caps and pay freezes for the police.

65% of respondents from Humberside Police felt that they were worse off financially than they were five years ago and 12% of respondents reported never or almost never having enough money to cover all their essentials.

The negative impact of the Government’s treatment towards police officers and police pay is clear from the survey – 45% of respondents from Humberside Police felt that morale within the Humberside is currently low.

Although this is the best personal morale figure in the country.

Last year police officers across England and Wales were given a 0% pay rise. Household bills are rising sharply and National Insurance is going up in April. Over the past 10 years police officer pay has fallen in real terms by 18%.

So it comes as no surprise that 68% of the 1,023 respondents from Humberside Police said that they are dissatisfied with their overall remuneration.

And 61% of respondents from Humberside Police said that over the last 12 months, their workload has been too high or much too high.

The Federation is urging MPs to support its campaign for a real-terms pay increase and a fair and independent mechanism to decide on police officer pay rises.

Lee Sims, Humberside Police Federation Chair, said: “There sadly aren’t too many surprises in this survey. Hardworking Humberside Police colleagues haven’t had a pay rise since 2020 - and we fear whatever rise is coming this year will be nowhere near in line with what is booming inflation.

“The cost of everything is going up. Police officer pay has not. The Government clearly has no understanding of the pressures of policing or what our members are out there doing – tackling violent criminals, putting robbers behind bars, locking up sex offenders and let’s not forget keeping the public safe during a global pandemic.

“We should be paid accordingly for that work. But we are not. Officers shouldn’t be out on shifts worrying about paying their bills.

“New recruits are starting on such a comparatively low wage for the work they do, the demands on their home lives and the risks we face. The fact police pay is 18% below where it should be – behind the cost of living  - over the last decade is a disgrace. We have to ask are we going to retain the fantastic and courageous police officers who are our future?”

Lee added: “Finally we would like to thank so many of our Humberside Police Federation members for taking the time to complete the survey and giving us such a good evidence base to take to our local and national politicians, showing the reality out there.

“It is pleasing to see that officers in Humberside have the best personal morale in the country – according to the national data. However we mustn’t be complacent and we will carry on working with the force to look after our brave colleagues.”