The National Secretary of the Police Superintendents’ Association, Warren Franklin, has commented following today’s public sector funding announcement, confirming a 4.75% pay rise for police.
“It is positive that police officers at all ranks will receive a pay rise. We know through data, evidence, benchmarking and economic trends, that they are underpaid, and have been for many years. We also welcome the fact that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), thereby following the process in place to determine these decisions – something that has not been consistently followed in the past.
“We do have a number of concerns that we intend to address with the Home Office at the earliest opportunity. This pay rise is far below inflation once again, and it appears that the PRRB has moved the goal posts when determining the value of this. Typically, inflation is determined from September to September. This would place the figure (as at September 2023), at 6.7%. They have instead taken a lower figure, thereby lowering these public sector pay awards. The PRRB must be clear and transparent, ahead of the consultation process, over what figure it will use, and why.
“We’re also concerned over the way in which different public sectors are being paid in relation to their employment rights. We of course welcome the fact that our colleagues in health and education have received pay rises. These rises are higher than police and prison officers – the two sectors that legally cannot strike, and therefore have little recourse over unfair decisions. We hope that we will not begin to see a trend of public sector workers with the ability to withhold labour, being favoured in pay decisions against those without this option.
“In our own submission to the PRRB this year, we called for a sustainable funding strategy that recognises the unique nature of policing. Our sector deserves an above inflation pay award that is applied equally across all ranks. It is also critically in need of a longer-term strategy linked to a future multiyear settlement aligned to the next comprehensive spending review, that continues to reduce real term pay cuts.
“We have no promise of this long-term commitment yet, so we will be seeking assurance that this longer-term view of public sector funding is planned. We have a tired, de-motivated and under-paid workforce, being expected to deliver incredibly demanding work. If we want to retain our people, whilst also attracting new people into this career, it is crucial that this longer-term approach is taken to funding UK policing.”
“It is positive that police officers at all ranks will receive a pay rise. We know through data, evidence, benchmarking and economic trends, that they are underpaid, and have been for many years. We also welcome the fact that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), thereby following the process in place to determine these decisions – something that has not been consistently followed in the past.
“We do have a number of concerns that we intend to address with the Home Office at the earliest opportunity. This pay rise is far below inflation once again, and it appears that the PRRB has moved the goal posts when determining the value of this. Typically, inflation is determined from September to September. This would place the figure (as at September 2023), at 6.7%. They have instead taken a lower figure, thereby lowering these public sector pay awards. The PRRB must be clear and transparent, ahead of the consultation process, over what figure it will use, and why.
“We’re also concerned over the way in which different public sectors are being paid in relation to their employment rights. We of course welcome the fact that our colleagues in health and education have received pay rises. These rises are higher than police and prison officers – the two sectors that legally cannot strike, and therefore have little recourse over unfair decisions. We hope that we will not begin to see a trend of public sector workers with the ability to withhold labour, being favoured in pay decisions against those without this option.
“In our own submission to the PRRB this year, we called for a sustainable funding strategy that recognises the unique nature of policing. Our sector deserves an above inflation pay award that is applied equally across all ranks. It is also critically in need of a longer-term strategy linked to a future multiyear settlement aligned to the next comprehensive spending review, that continues to reduce real term pay cuts.
“We have no promise of this long-term commitment yet, so we will be seeking assurance that this longer-term view of public sector funding is planned. We have a tired, de-motivated and under-paid workforce, being expected to deliver incredibly demanding work. If we want to retain our people, whilst also attracting new people into this career, it is crucial that this longer-term approach is taken to funding UK policing.”