Pay increase is a step in the right direction, says Fed chair
23 July 2020
The 2.5 per cent pay award announced by the Government this week is a step in the right direction in terms of getting police officer pay back to where it needs to be after years of below-inflation salary increases, says the chair of West Midlands Police Federation.
Jon Nott says that given the current crisis the country faces due to the pandemic there were positives in the Government announcement which will see the 2.5 per pay increase paid across the ranks from 1 September 2020.
“The Home Office has accepted in full the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body, which advises the Government on officer pay. This has not always been the case so this is to be welcomed,” says Jon.
“In our joint submission to the review body with the Police Superintendents’ Association in February this year, we had called for a five per cent increase but, of course, this was before the pandemic. When you consider the financial pressures we are now facing as a country, we have to take this pay award as a step in the right direction.
“However, as a Federation, we will continue to fight for more substantial increases in pay in the future when the economy allows due to the unique role police officers play in society.
“For far too long, their pay has not reflected the real dangers they face, day in, day out as they serve and protect their communities and this has been clearly evident during the pandemic when they have been on the front-line maintaining public services.
“Over the last decade, they have seen their pay reduced by 18 per cent in real terms so I am pleased that we are starting to see signs that the Government wants to put this right. However, it seems that this increase has to be funded from existing police budgets so I hope we are not going to see cuts in other areas so that forces can afford the increased wages bill.”
Jon’s views were in line with those of the national Federation chair, John Apter, who said: “With the economic vulnerability we face as a country, many colleagues will be relieved to receive a 2.5 per cent pay increase - anything lower would have been completely unacceptable.”
The wage rise will mean a constable will receive an extra £1,100, including salary and allowances, of pensionable pay a year from 1 September this year.
The Government also announced:
- London Weighting and the dog handlers’ allowance would increase by 2.5 per cent too
- The lowest point on the sergeants’ pay scale would be removed
- The maximum rate of London Allowance would increase by £1,000 to £5,338 a year for officers appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and not receiving replacement allowance.
