Rich challenges Home Secretary: “Put your money where your mouth is”
18 May 2022
West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke told Home Secretary Priti Patel to “put her money where her mouth is” when he confronted her over pay and conditions at the annual Federation conference.
Rich was met with cheers and applause from the audience when he stood to address Ms Patel after her speech to delegates on the opening day of the conference in Manchester.
He told her: “Our members have had their pay absolutely slashed, we have had our pensions ripped up over the last few years by your Government.
“It is about time you and your colleagues put your money where your mouth is and did something about the terrible state that our colleagues are finding themselves in.”
Ms Patel insisted she was committed to improving police pay and conditions and said she wanted to work closely with the Police Federation to resolve the long running row over remuneration.
She urged new national chair Steve Hartshorn to re-engage with the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) to help reach a fresh pay deal.
The Police Federation withdrew from the official police pay review body last year after branding it not fit for purpose and rejecting its claims to be independent from the Government.
Responding directly to Rich, the Home Secretary said: “I completely hear what you say. This is the issue where we have to start working together.
“The Federation’s voice has not been at the table and that has been the problem. So we absolutely need to restart that.”
The Police Federation withdrew from PRRB amid widespread outrage over the Government decision to freeze pay for officers who earn more than £24,000.
Ms Patel told the conference: “I strongly urge the Police Federation to engage with the PRRB, which has a key role in advising the Government on pay and conditions for police officers.
“I want the voices of your members to be heard in this process, loudly and clearly.”
Steve told her: “It’s really important to get us at the table but we need something to hold us at the table to make sure we’re going to be listened to properly and it holds the Government to account.”
