Essex Federation backs PFEW over Judicial Review on pay

THE Police Federation of England and Wales has the full support of Essex Police Federation and the officers it represents as it takes the Government to court over the 2018 police officer pay rise.

Essex Federation Chairman Steve Taylor says it’s an important step for the national Federation to take and that it is ‘pushing back’ after officers in England and Wales were awarded a ‘derisory’ 2% pay rise in July.

In doing so, the Government ignored the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) the lawfulness of which the PFEW will be challenging through the courts.

Steve said: “I welcome it and I don’t understand why we didn’t do it the first time around but a change in (PFEW) Secretary, a change in the centre has meant this is being viewed with fresh eyes.

“I think it’s a really important step for us to take to judiciary review the Home Secretary who has exercised the collective will of cabinet as allegedly leaked documents would have us believe – that’s not what he should have been doing.

“He should have been taking the decision on his own,” Steve added.

“In a way we’re calling him for something I accuse the IOPC of doing all the time. ‘I don’t personally want to do this, but this is what I’m told I need to do’.

“Well I’m sorry, no. That’s not a good enough answer for our members and I think it’s right that we’re holding him to account for that very basic interpretation of what’s happened.”

The decision to adopt the pay review body recommendations in statute is something that the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State must account for, Steve said.

“As we know, that’s not happened, and we know it was a cabinet decision, which the Prime Minister leads, not to accept those recommendations.

“So, the Home Secretary is not treating us fairly, he’s not treating us to according to the rule of the law and I think it’s right that we hold him to account for that.

“Whilst he is in the frame for this, it’s important to remember that cabinet responsibility goes both ways, and if he is found wanting of not exercising his duty here then the cabinet bear responsibility for that as well.”

The issue does also call into question the role of the PRRB, Steve believes, as the Government obviously feels empowered to ignore its recommendations.

“Why isn’t the PRRB itself isn’t bringing a review? Do we read into that decision that they’re complicit in what’s gone on, because it undermines the whole need for it.

“What’s the point in having this independent review mechanism if, at the end of the day, you’re going to make your own mind up anyway? It makes a joke of it all.

“Essentially the Government is asking us to dance to a tune and then changing the music.”

Steve added: “The process is important here.

“If we don’t have confidence in the process then what can we have confidence in? We’ve jumped through all the hoops, made evidenced submissions, and we’ve got a result of sorts from the pay review body.

“Having done all that it’s just simply ignored it. That’s the issue for us.

“That does not mean that we will get what the pay review body says. It’s simply means that the Home Secretary is at fault for not following the rules.

“We are tired of just being had over like this. We have to start pushing back, whilst still trying to be constructive and have a relationship with these bodies and organisations.”