Page 7 - Insight Issue 3

As you can see for yourselves, it wasn’t just about the In case you missed the Feds communications on this
inaccuracy of the statements about our pay award announced 2 percent award, this isn’t new money,
– or lack of it – but about the myths and lies that it has to come from existing policing budgets which
Government Ministers continue to feed the press and means forces may have to choose between offcer
the public about the crime fgures, police numbers, numbers and public safety. On Merseyside that means
‘extra’ offcers on the streets and the ‘extra’ money we the pay-rise would cost the force the equivalent of 25
will be paid. Offcers if the Chief hadn’t made the decision along
with the PCC to pay the extra out of Merseyside’s
Merseyside Fed released a statement to our local media rapidly shrinking reserves.
saying “Crime is not falling, it’s rising and in some areas
like cybercrime it has exploded. Less and less offcers are So we will continue to ask questions and demand
having to do more and more, and ministers statements answers from an administration that is misleading the
of extra police offcers being on patrol are false, they public. We will continue in our attempts to get ministers
are not ‘extra’ police offcers. They are the same offcers to listen and understand the reality of what the cuts
doing longer hours, being called back in when they are have done to our ability to serve the public and fght
off or being given extra responsibilities. It is all smoke crime. And we will continue to fght to get a decent,
and mirrors and double standards. The public here on proper pay award for those who deserve it most – you,
Merseyside have been fantastic at giving us support, the Police Offcers of the UK.
but they deserve better. Offcers are reaching breaking
point; we are now seeing offcers unable to cope with (Just to inform you all – as of the time of going to
the mental and physical demands placed upon them by print, 5 weeks after writing to the PM – we have still
having to work in depleted environments. This cannot not had a reply!)
be right or fair on anyone – offcers or the public.”

An open letter to Government, on behalf of the 43
Federations of England and Wales

• Forces cannot cope with any further falls in police numbers.
• Communities will be further under threat at the very time protection is needed
21 September, 2017 the most. Community policing plays a vital part in intelligence gathering to help
Dear Prime Minister combat terrorism and it has been decimated.
• ‘Extra’ police officers are not ‘extra’ police officers. They are the same officers
On behalf of the hard working officers who are working to the bone to protect our people, doing longer hours, being called back in when they are off or being given extra
who fight to protect our communities and who keep you safe, we demand answers. responsibilities.
• Crime is not falling.
And we demand that you tell the public the truth. About crime figures. About police
numbers. About the ‘extra’ officers you pledge. About ‘extra’ money you say you will pay. And answer our questions:
No more smoke. No more mirrors. No more double standards. • Why was the independent body which has awarded MPs and ministers a 13% rise
over the last three years listened to when the independent police body on pay
You expect officers to run towards terrorists one minute and then turn your backs when we was not?
ask for help so they can afford to feed their families. Families they barely see because of the • How can you justify these double standards?
hours they work to fill the void left by the thousands of officers who are no longer there • Do you think it is acceptable that the derisory pay award is expected to come at a
because of your cuts.
cost of losing more officers?
Officers who are now broken. Who are unable to cope with the mental and physical Our members have been failed by:
demands placed upon them by having to work in depleted environments. With out of date
kit .With fewer people. With no support. One chief constable has just this week told you • The FAILURE to heed our warnings.
that 40% of his officers have sought professional help for stress. It is the tip of the iceberg. • The FAILURE to implement the very recommendations of the independent bodies
you introduced.
Our officers are committed to serving the public. And we thank the public for their • The FAILURE to support them and the police service as a whole.
overwhelming support, particularly in light of recent incidents. But with 20,000 fewer police • The FAILURE to help officers protect the country.
officers than five years ago it is no wonder we have seen crime rise and the service to the
public suffer. This is not fair on them. • The FAILURE to help officers protect the public adequately.
And two per cent pay rise with no extra money to pay for it means it is the public who will We don’t want meaningless platitudes.
yet again suffer and get even less of a service. We want a properly funded and well-resourced police service. The public rightly want and
expect this.
So hear us when we say:
For the sake of those who put their lives on the line for the public we demand you address
• The pay award of on average less than £10 a week is insulting. these injustices and give us answers.
• A two per cent rise is not a rise when it has to come from existing policing
budgets.
• It’s a disgrace you have dressed it up as a pay rise. Members of the interim National Council
• Funding must come centrally; it is unfair to make the public suffer with fewer
officers available to fight crime. Of the Police Federation of England and Wales on behalf of hard-working police officers
• It’s a disgrace you have ignored the recommendations from the independent across the country.
Police Remuneration Review Body – the very body you set up to advise on police
pay.

www.polfed.org @PFEW_HQ
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