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Superintendents’ Association joins with chief officers and other policing organisations to call for above inflation pay award

The Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA), which represents senior operational police officers, has called for a long-term funding strategy to fairly pay police officers at every rank, with a pay award above inflation.
 
In its submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), the association has made a number of recommendations, in partnership with the Superintendents’ Association of Northern Ireland (SANI), each based on data and evidence, including that taken from extensive consultation with members.
 
For the second year in a row, the PSA has joined with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association (CPOSA) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), in a joint statement outlining shared concerns over the long-term reduction in police officer pay and calling for a sustainable funding strategy that recognises the unique nature of policing.
 
The statement also outlines a joint recommendation, seeking a fully funded, above inflation pay award that is applied equally across all ranks, and 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.
 
Year on year, the PSA has raised concerns over the pay award for policing, and over the process in place to determine this.  Whilst recognising last year’s pay award of 7%, the association’s submission evidences the real terms deterioration of police officer pay against rising inflation, and lack of employment rights afforded to police.
 
In addition to this joint call for fair, and long-term funding, the PSA has made a series of recommendations linked to senior officer pay and reward and to the processes in place to determine police officer pay.
 
PSA National Secretary Dan Murphy said: “Decisions on police officer pay must be based on long-term, strategic planning, and on fair remuneration for the work we are asking people to deliver.
 
“We have evidence and data that clearly shows how police officer pay has dropped in real-terms year on year, and also how we compare with other industries. This is irrefutable, and it is the right thing to do to address this, providing police officers with a pay deal that is fair, above inflation, that recognises the unique nature of the work they do, and that helps us provide a reason for them to stay in what can be a difficult and demanding job.
 
“Our own surveys, and that of other organisations have shown repeatedly that the wellbeing and morale of police officers is low, and that the work they are delivering has an effect on their mental health. It is accepted that policing is a difficult and challenging role – something we know our members and their colleagues are proud to do – but we must recognise this in their pay and reward.
 
“I hope that our submission, which is rooted in evidence and direct feedback from our members – the most senior operational officers in policing – will help positively influence members of the PRRB in their recommendations to the Home Office on police officer pay. This is critical in maintaining a motivated, well, and high performing workforce, that delivers policing our communities need.”
 
The full PSA submission can be viewed here.