Page 7 - WMPF Federation Aug-Sept 2020_Neat

The factors considered New recruits

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) said that while COVID-19 The PRRB concluded that pay flexibility for new constables’
changed the context of the report as it was prepared it considered its starting salaries should be retained but it urged the
remit in the usual way and focussed on longer-term trends in the data National Police Chiefs’ Council to consider this as part of its
and information relevant to its evidence-based process. benchmarking work as part of pay reform.
The key factors taken into account when reaching the main pay It states that the pay progression available to
award recommendation were: apprentices once they qualified as PCs was an important
l The continued high demand on the police with no reduction in the element in addition to the starting salary.
range of crime types or the complexity of cases
l The priority being given to achieve the uplift in police officer
numbers, including the need for pay to:
l facilitate recruitment Looking ahead
l encourage retention of those with skills and experience
l reward those in supervisory chains who will have the additional “We note that the current economic data means that this
responsibilities in delivering workforce uplift and supporting the year’s pay recommendation will be a real-term increase for
new intake of officers, and officers in our remit group but assess that this is justified
l acknowledge the part played by all officers in continuing to deliver given the evidence presented to us and the demand,
a service in a demanding environment, given that it will take some complexity and level of risk and responsibility placed on
time for the benefits of the uplift programme to be realised the police. We recognise that the environment for next
l The state of police morale, including the frustration of officers who year’s review will be influenced by a number of factors,” the
told PRRB they were not able to do their job properly and of their report concluded.
concerns about the volume and complexity of their work It said it would continue to monitor the longer-term
l The evidence provided on affordability, noting that views on this implications of COVID-19 and the impact of the UK leaving
are driven by both budget and demand but that ultimately it was the European Union on policing. It would also await an
a matter of judgement update on the uplift programme and pay reform.
l The state of the wider economy, including indicators of pay The Home Office would need to provide clear
settlements parameters in its remit letter if PRRB was to consider a
l The relationship to pay reform. multi-year deal.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation August/September 2020 07