Page 7 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2018flip_Neat

Home Secretary ‘paying

lip service’ to officers

n real terms police officer pay has Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) for the that is not a good place for policing. Fewer
now decreased by around 18 per cent second year running. people dealing with more calls; yet in the
I since 2009/10, according to the Police “The Government must honour the Government’s eyes they are only worth a real
Federation of England and Wales. PRRB process which is based on evidence term pay cut. Police officers go above and
National vice-chair Ché Donald said the – we asked for 3.4 per cent so that officers beyond what is expected of them day in day
Home Secretary’s announcement on pay could be paid fairly for the dangerous job out – and I know that today’s news is making
‘flies in the face of a lot of hot air spouted they do after years of austerity. The PRRB many officers ask themselves why.”
by the Home Office and Government’ over recommended a total of three per cent. l The Federation says the ‘so-called’ two
the past few months. “We have played ball – we submit per cent pay rise will actually leave officers
“Less than two weeks ago the Home evidence to the pay review body, yet financially worse off (when inflation is
Secretary was proudly pleased to hand Government dismisses its recommendation. accounted for) and is worth only an 0.85
bravery awards to two officers who took In the coming weeks we will be consulting per cent increase in real terms. This figure is
on the London Bridge terrorists. At our with our local Federation colleagues to derived from the fact that of last year’s two
conference in May, he said he would stick determine the next steps to take.” per cent only one per cent was consolidated.
up for officers and fight for a better deal. He continued: “Police officers used to That one per cent has now been removed by
We warned then he was on probation,” said feel valued and appreciated, but when the Government for this year’s pay award so,
Che, on the day the pay award was revealed. Government ignores the recommendation taking into account pension contributions,
“But now this is looking more and more of its own independent pay review body, the actual uplift is worth approximately 0.85
like paying lip service, when in reality this then police officers feel demoralised, fed per cent to constables.
pay award is an insult to those who serve up, unappreciated and undervalued. And
day in, day out. It means that an officer at
the start of their service is going to be a
miserly £2.50 better off each week. The Government must honour the PRRB
“No wonder a growing number of
officers are leaving the service. In the “ process which is based on evidence –
past two years there has been an increase
of more than 30 per cent of voluntary we asked for 3.4 per cent so that officers
resignations – nearly 2,000 last year alone
- we are literally haemorrhaging officers could be paid fairly for the dangerous
and much of it has to do with the fact they
simply can’t afford to stay in the job.” job they do after years of austerity. The
Ché criticised the Government for
ignoring the recommendations of the Police PRRB recommended a total of three per
cent. “

www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2018 07