Government signals 4.2% pay rise for police officers in England and Wales

The pay increase will mean the starting salary for a police constable will be £31,163, up to £1,256. The typical salary for a constable who has been in post six years will be £50,257 and the average earnings for a chief superintendent will be £98,500. In addition to the headline pay rise, the Government is also increasing on-call, away from home and hardship allowances by £10.  

The pay boost “reflects the bravery, professionalism and tireless dedication” of officers who protect the public and will be supported by £120 million from the Home Office to help protect police force budgets.

London weighting will be boosted by 4.2%, duly reflecting the demands placed on officers in the capital.

Signal of gratitude

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Our brave police officers work day and night, often making enormous sacrifices, in order to keep us safe. This Government is proud to back them in doing so. This pay award is a clear signal of our gratitude, and our determination, to ensure that officers are properly rewarded for their service.”

Cooper continued: “Policing is the bedrock of a secure Britain and our Plan for Change. We are committed to investing in the front line and supporting officers who work every day to tackle crime, keep our streets safe and protect our communities.”

The pay rise underscores the Home Secretary’s commitment to investing in the front line and supporting officers, in addition to delivering the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. A key part of the Government’s Plan for Change, this will keep our streets safe and restore public confidence through visible, community-focused policing.

Measures in the guarantee include: 

*restoring neighbourhood policing to cut crime in local communities and keep the streets safe

*named and contactable officers for every neighbourhood 

*guaranteed police patrols in busy areas (such as town centres) at peak times

*new career pathways and standards from the College of Policing

Making good on this commitment, the Government has already provided funding of up to £1.2 billion to police forces this year, including £200 million to put an additional 3,000 neighbourhood officers ‘on the beat’ by next spring.

Police Federation’s response

The Police Federation has responded to the Government’s announcement.

Deputy national chair Brian Booth: “The pay award of 4.2% barely treads water, with inflation currently at 4.1%. We note that chief constables argued for a pay rise of just 3.8%. We welcome the Government’s decision to reject that position and instead listen to the strong case we have been making on behalf of police officers across the country.”

Brown continued: “However, after more than a decade of real terms pay cuts, this award does little to reverse the long-term decline in officers’ living standards or address the crisis policing faces. A pay rise worth the price of a Big Mac per shift will not stop record levels of resignatins, record mental health absences or the record number of assaults on officers.”

In conclusion, Brown asserted: “We will now ask our members whether they accept or reject this award.”

Comment from the NPCC

Assistant chief officer Philip Wells, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for pay and conditions, said: “We are pleased that the pay review body recognised the evidence that was presented by chief constables. The pay award is what we believe our officers deserve and reflects the nature of the work they are required to undertake to keep our streets safe.”

Wells added: “The Home Secretary has also announced an extra £120 million towards funding the pay award. With more than 85% of police spend being on pay costs, it’s vitally important that additional costs for pay are fully funded if we are to maintain services and be able to continue to invest in areas such as neighbourhood policing and technology.”