We should not disengage with the PRRB says Federation

THE police service should still commit to the pay review process – even though the Government continues to ignore remuneration recommendations.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor has added his frustrations to those being expressed by Federation leaders across England and Wales following the miserly ‘2%’ pay award for 2018/19. In real terms it equates to less than 1%.

Those recommendations have been ignored for the last two years.

“What more can we do?” said Steve.

“We make detailed, evidenced and reasonable submissions to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and by and large they are accepted by them.

“I think we made six recommendations to the PRRB this year and five of them were accepted by them. Ultimately the Government says yes or no to their recommendations and consistently they are saying no.”

Tempting though it is to opt out of the process in protest it’s important to try and remain positive he added.

“Should we disengage with the PRRB? It’s not their fault the Government isn’t listening.

“We have to be sensible, we have to be positive and try and engage with these bodies and the lawmakers behind the scenes, our local MPs, Home Office MPs and the wider Government.

“Because it’s only through constructive relationships with them that we can hope to influence any kind of change.”