Police pay rise needed to keep up with ‘cost of living’

ESSEX officers deserve a pay rise as the ‘cost of living is not reflected in what we are paid’ according to Essex Police Federation.

Federation Chairman Steve Taylor is backing calls from the Police Federation of England and Wales and The Superintendent’s Association to reward the hard work and dedication of UK officers with a 3.4% pay rise this year.

Essex officers have a particularly deserving case, he says, given the cost of living in the county and the fact that officers are being asked to do more in the face of cuts across the board.

“The cost of living is not reflected in what we are paid. We are lobbying for the South East Allowance to be increased, but even that wouldn’t cover the cost of living in Essex,” he says.

The force also loses officers to transfers to other areas, Steve explains.

“It’s clearly a retention issue so that must speak of some of the local issues we have here.

“A 3.4% pay rise, although officers deserve that and more from the centre, wouldn’t do any harm in addressing these problems.

Nationally, the PFEW has set out the reasoning behind the pay rise claim in a submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB). As with previous years, the submission has been made jointly with the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA).

“Year on year we provide evidence as to why we think our officers are worth the pay rise,” Steve says, “but year on year that evidence is ignored.

“I hope this year’s submission receives a better outcome. What I really don’t want to see is unconsolidated awards which are, I believe, a gimmick and disrespectful.

“I hope whatever is agreed doesn’t include them.”

Striking, of course, is not an option should the award not be rubber stamped by the Home Secretary in September.

“I think the Government would want us to put up and shut up in that scenario,” Steve says.

“But we can’t do that, we’ll have to continue to lobby local MPs and decision makers and the Police and Crime Commissioner – we have to box smart and ask our communities for their support in giving us adequate funding to be able to do our job.”