Page 24 - WMPF Federation June-July2018-flip_Neat

Concern over starting

salaries in pay and

conditions debate

urham Police and Crime the Police Federation members, the men theme throughout the session with Andy
Commissioner Ron Hogg argued and women out on the streets and we Fittes, general secretary, starting by
Dthat it was thanks to Police must actually listen to them very carefully,” criticising the £18,000 figure for
Federation members that the police service he explained. apprentices: “We have a fundamental issue
had not collapsed. The service needed to reform but it over the starting salary for that; we think
Speaking out in the pay and conditions needed to learn from its mistakes, the PCC it’s too low. And I still think it’s wrong that
session in the opening segment of said, pointing to the divisive effect of CRTP we are asking people to do a job we all do
Wednesday’s conference, Mr Hogg also and SPP, although they were well at such a low level of pay.”
agreed that proposed starting salaries for intentioned. Skills had to be recognised Apprenticeship pay would be
new recruits were now too low and that he along with hard work and commitment. ‘paypoint -1’, he said.
had not dropped them to the £18,000 level He expressed concern that change was There needed to be a joined-up plan on
put forward under Theresa May’s time at being driven by the Treasury and concluded, recruitment, pay and career progression
the Home Office as he did not feel it was to widespread applause, that pay reform that was fair to all.
right to do so. needed to bring: “The right change, for the Not surprisingly, he was backed up by Dr
“The only reason that the police service right reason, to get the right results.” Joan Donnelly, the Federation’s head of
has not crashed is because of the efforts of The issue of starting salaries was a research and policy, who argued that the

24 federation June/July 2018 www.westmidspolfed.com