New branch chair sends strong message as he stands ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Tiff Lynch and Nick Smart

9 June 2025

The new chair of Nottinghamshire Police Federation has today thrown his support behind a letter written by the acting chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Tiff Lynch, and president of the Police Superintendents’ Association, Nick Smart.

Tiff and Nick have teamed up to outline the current police crisis ahead of this week’s spending review, which will be announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday. 

Raising their concerns, they said: “When a young constable looks down at their payslip and wonders how they’ll make rent this month, something is deeply wrong.

“When experienced detectives walk away from decades of service, broken by the demands placed on them, it’s the police service itself that’s broken.”

New branch chair Mark Lee.

Today, Mark Lee has written an open letter to members, vowing to continue the fight for better police pay as he pledges his commitment to improving the working environment within policing:

“As the newly elected branch chair, I have wasted no time in doing what matters most - getting out to stations, meeting our members, and listening. And let me be clear: in just a short space of time, one concern has echoed across every station I’ve visited: our officers are significantly underpaid, and the situation is simply unacceptable.

“There is a growing feeling among our members that the Government is not just indifferent to this crisis - it is actively disregarding it. The reality is stark. Officers are expected to deliver a world-class service, to protect and serve the public through the most trying and dangerous circumstances, while their pay fails to reflect the demands, risks, and sacrifices of the job.

“We don’t need platitudes. We don’t want token gestures. We will not accept a sticking plaster over a gaping wound.

“This is not a call for minor tweaks or politically convenient appeasements. This is a demand for real, tangible investment in policing - investment that recognises the critical role our officers play in keeping the public safe and that prioritises their welfare, wellbeing, and long-term support.

“The simple truth is this: if the public wants a police service they can be proud of and trust in their time of need, then the government must fund it properly. They must honour their duty of care to the very people who run towards danger when others run away.

“With over 23 years in policing, I have never been more concerned about the physical and mental strain being placed on our officers. Too many are at breaking point, asking themselves the devastating question: ‘what’s the point?’

“I would like to reassure members that I will not stand by while this happens. I will support our officers with an unwavering desire to fight for what is right. For pay that reflects their service. For conditions that protect their health. For a system that values their dedication and supports their future.

“We deserve better. Our members deserve better. And I will not rest until that message is heard loud and clear by those in power.”

Mark Lee

Branch chair