New pay plans bring ‘divide and conquer’ attitude

THE CHAIRMAN of Essex Police Federation has spoken out against the Government’s latest round of pay reform for officers – asking why remuneration needs to come under the microscope yet again.

The Home Secretary has recently written to the Police Remuneration Review Body to introduce targeted pay rises up to a value of 1%.

In the letter dated 9 November, Theresa May wrote: “In considering the appropriate level of pay for police officers I would ask you to have regard to the need to ensure that the proposals reflect the Government’s policy on public sector pay.

She added: “In particular, that there will be funding for pay awards up to an average of 1% a year, with the expectation that these will be applied in a targeted manner.”

Mrs May also called for pay to better reflect “competence, skills and professional development of officers”, along with a review of overtime rates for bank holiday working, motor vehicle allowance rates and the away from home allowance.

But Mark Smith (pictured) hit out at the move. He said: “We have just had pay reformed under Winsor. Does it really need reforming again? No. We are paid fairly.”

He added: “Bank holidays shouldn’t be touched. On paying different officers different amounts – no, wrong. I think that’s completely wrong. It brings in an attitude of divide and conquer. How are they going to justify who is paid what? Because PDRs don’t actually work really in forces, some forces do them some forces don’t. Some do them well, some don’t. I don’t really see how they can justify paying different officers, different amounts of money.

“I understand why they’re putting the cap at 1%. I don’t agree with it, but that won’t ever change because that’s the way the Government are going, and they were always going to put the one per cent cap. Should we have more than 1%? Yes we should. Should we all be getting the same? Yes we should.”