Police officers to only get 1% pay rise

Police officers will only get an extra 1% in their pay packets, despite the Government announcing this morning that all police officers would get a 2% pay rise from 1 September. Because last year’s pay award consisted of a 1% rise and a 1% one-off bonus, that means that officers are not getting the full 2% extra that the Government said. Extra funds to pay for the award will also have to be found from force coffers, the Government has announced. Hampshire Police Federation Chairman John Apter told Police Oracle: “I am angry at the government who yet again have shown nothing but contempt for hardworking police officers. “They have ignored Independent Pay Review Body who recommended a higher pay award.” The Government ignored a recommendation from the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) that the 1% non-consolidated bonus from last year be paid on top of the 2% award. However, that was dismissed with a Home Office statement saying “police employers had advised that the maximum affordable amount which could be paid would be the 2% rise”. Effectively that means the rise is just 1%. Other public-sector workers including teachers will receive a 3.5% pay rise the Government announced. The cash to pay for the rise in teaching salaries will be paid to schools by the Government. That’s not the case for policing, meaning forces will have to foot the increased pay bill from existing budgets. A Home Office statement says its recent £460 million injection into the police service, through Council Tax precepts will be used by forces to pay for the award. The Home Office states that the average pay for a PC will now be £38,600 and that the increase is made up of a 2% increase for all police officer ranks, a 2% increase to London Weighting payments and a 2% increase to the dog handlers’ allowance. The PRRB’s recommendations for recruits on PC degree apprenticeships was accepted meaning their salaries can range from £18,000 to £23,586.