It’s encouraging that the public back better police pay, says Chair

THE public thinks police officers should be paid more money – and it’s needed as some officers are living on the breadline.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said a recent newspaper poll, which revealed that 73% of respondents backed better pay for officers, was encouraging.

“It’s good news and we’ve been saying for a long time that officers deserve fair pay, we deserve fair recognition for what we do, and, at the moment, that’s particularly acute here in the South East, we don’t feel that our newer officers get that.

“The percentage of officers that are living with less than £75 at the end of the month is shocking. That should be a big wake-up call because in the past when officers have been as ill paid as we think we are now; the door can be opened to temptation – the Government are ignoring the most important pay recommendations too.”

The Government awarded police officers a 2% pay rise from 1 September. However, because last year’s pay award consisted of a 1% rise and a 1% one-off bonus, it means that officers are effectively only getting another 1% in their pay packets. The Pay Review Body recommended that police officers should get a 3% pay rise.

More worryingly, the Daily Express poll also revealed that 40% of people said they had never seen a patrol car out at night.

“I think much of that is that we’ve increased the use of technology,” Steve said.

“We do more with less and one of the consequences is that you’re not going to see a Bobby on the beat, you’re not going to see a car perhaps as often as you’d like, but that doesn’t mean we’re not there.”