Cynical reaction to Government delaying police pay rise

THE decision to delay the 2017 police officer pay award arguably shows the contempt the police service is held in by the Home Office.

The police officer pay rise award announcement for officers in England and Wales – ordinarily made in July – will not now be made until September, the Government has confirmed. “I think it’s a really poor excuse to say it’s a bit busy and can’t squeeze it in,” Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said.

He added: “Bearing in mind everything officers have gone through recently. The three big terrorist attacks. How we were stretched and stretched and stretched. The cynic in me thinks it’s nice to create a bit of time, to create a bit of distance between those events in the public memory, so if the Government turn around and say, ‘No, they are just having 1%’, the backlash won’t be as severe as it would be if they were to announce that now.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales and the Superintendents’ Association have once again asked for a pay increase of 2.8% for all police officers.

Steve added: “Why is it acceptable for the Government just to turn round and put it on the backburner because they’ve got a bit on at the moment?

“How are we thought of in the Government if they’re just happy to postpone a decision and put it on the backburner? And let’s not forget, we’ve been in this position before – in 2007 –  when the Labour Government at the time refused to backdate a pay rise.

“So am afraid it does build in more cynicism and more scepticism around what the pay review decision will be.”