Public sector pay freeze comes as a slap in the face to committed officers

A PAY rise for police officers is to be “paused” next year the Chancellor has told the House of Commons today.

“I cannot justify an across the board pay increase for all public sector workers,” Rishi Sunak said.

Doctors and nurses are to still get a pay rise. Those in the public sector earning under £24,000 will still get pay rise of at least £250 he tells Parliament.

Mr Sunak did tell MPs that “pay progressions and promotions will carry on” in the public sector which should refer to police officers who receive/are scheduled to receive incremental rises.

Laura Heggie, Chair of Essex Police Federation, said “I will always argue that police officers should continue to get a pay rise because of the job that they do. It isn’t a well-paid job, especially when you are first starting out and you factor in unsociable hours, expectations and the risks faced daily.

“The Government were never going to win no matter what they did, but they should have looked a lot closer to home when looking at pay cuts.”

“This does come as a slap in the face to police officers. Much like the NHS, who have been heroes this year, police officers have continued to put themselves at greater risk and come to work every day to police this pandemic.

“They signed up to be police officers, their families didn’t, and they’re now being dragged along for the ride and having that increased risk of being exposed to the virus in their own home. Giving officers the pay rise they rightly deserve would have just offered that extra support and commitment for what they have done throughout the year.”

Laura added: “Officers are very unhappy with the announcement and we at Essex Police Federation are concerned about how this will leave them going forward.”

Parliament heard how £400+ million will be provided to recruit 6,000 police officers Mr Sunak added. “Well on track to recruit 20,000.”

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds referenced how hollow the Chancellor “clapping for carers” during the first lock down now was.

She added: “Firefighters, police officers and teachers will know their spending power is going down… many key workers who took on so much responsibility during this crisis are now being forced to tighten their belts.”

She compared this to the “bonanza” for private companies who have won PPE contracts from the Government this year.