PSA National Secretary Warren Franklin has responded to today's government announcement confirming a 3.5% pay award for police officers:

PSA National Secretary Warren Franklin: "It is positive that the service will receive a pay increase that is above the UK rate of inflation - something we specifically asked for within our submission and evidence to the PRRB. It is also encouraging that the rise over 2.5% will be paid for centrally by the government, rather than falling to over-stretched forces.

"It is disappointing however, that we have not seen an increase in the rate of on-call paid to those who volunteer to perform these essential roles. We have continually lobbied for government to address the unfair expectations of accredited officers to work continuous, often dangerously long days, with little to no recompense. 

"We are also concerned that this year's pay rise is not in line with the 3.9% recommended by the PRRB. We have repeatedly questioned this approach and the process in place to determine police officer pay. We have an independent body, that is tasked with carrying out a huge amount of research and evidence gathering to make these recommendations, yet is often ignored, or directed to only make specific recommendations on matters determined by the home secretary.

"We face a defining moment in policing, with the beginning of implementation of proposals within the White Paper and the publication of the Leadership Commission's recommendations to government.

"Both of these pivotal pieces of work evidence the many challenges facing our service, and the need to do more to protect and value the workforce. We are facing a retention crisis far worse than we have seen before, and a changing view of policing that is moving away from the traditional 30-year career. 

"If we want to attract and retain the excellent people who we need to deliver our critical services every day, we need to pay them fairly. We also need to recognise the sacrifices they and their families and loved ones make to protect others, and the growing gap between our profession and others, when it comes to renumeration.

"Police reform will require huge investment, with long-term financial planning to enable change. Officer pay must be critical to this, so that we are adequately rewarding those who perform one of the most critical roles within society."