Page 14 - Federation magazine: February / March 2017
P. 14
Federation calls for
2.8 per cent pay rise
The Police Federation has called for all Andy Fittes, general secretary of the And it goes on to say the situation is
officers to be given a 2.8 per cent pay national Police Federation. exacerbated by the removal of a number of
rise. elements of pay, such as Competence
The Federation has argued for the rise in looked at the impact eight years of austerity Related Threshold Payments and Special
its annual submission to the Police had on the relative value of officers’ pay. This Priority Payments.
Remuneration Review Body (PRRB). includes two years of a pay freeze and There was also a recommendation that
In its joint submission with the several years of below inflation raises which the On Call Allowance, introduced in 2013
Superintendents’ Association, it has asked have resulted in a real terms gap across all and set at £15, was uplifted by the Retail
for the uplift, which would be in line with ranks of about 14.6 per cent. Price Index.
Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, despite a It states that should austerity measures The PRRB asked submissions to consider
one per cent public pay increase limit set by continue, a pay cap at one per cent over the both the targeting of pay and observations
the Treasury. next four years to 2020 would result in an on proposals to introduce police officer
“This year’s pay and morale survey, the overall gap between pay settlements and apprenticeships, in relation to setting pay.
largest ever undertaken, once again shows inflation of 23 per cent since 2010. Explaining the Federation view on these
that morale continues to be low. Alongside issues, Andy continued: “We are not against
how officers are treated, pay and benefits change to the pay system and recognise it
remains one of the most significant needs to change as the service changes.
contributory factors to this,” says Andy Fittes, However, chief constables should not be
general secretary of the national Police given ‘carte blanche’ to pay at their
Federation. discretion. Sufficient time needs to be given
“Continuing austerity measures, for discussions on any new targeting
exacerbated by inflation, have seen police proposals, with clear evidence presented
officers hit hard by way of a real terms pay throughout.
gap. The ability to recruit strong candidates, “We believe that to maintain fairness,
or recruit full stop, may be impacted if this is and encourage interest from a range of
not addressed. candidates reflective of their communities,
“Whilst directed to limit any pay award apprentices should be paid in line with
at one per cent, the independent PRRB must existing starting salary bandings. This would
be free to draw its own conclusions based on allow room for many, especially those with
the evidence presented.” prior policing experience, to attract the
One of the issues raised in the report higher starting point.”
The Police Federation and
“Continuing austerity measures, Superintendents’ Association’s submission to
exacerbated by inflation, have seen the PRRB and additional information,
police officers hit hard by way of a real including other stakeholder submissions can
terms pay gap. The ability to recruit be viewed on the Federation’s PRRB page.
strong candidates, or recruit full stop,“
may be impacted if this is not
addressed.
14 federation February/March 2017 www.westmidspolfed.com
