Unite, Unison and the GMB have reacted with anger after police staff were ‘offered’ a pay freeze that amounts to a massive real terms pay cut.

Employers – the National Police Chiefs Council, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and the Home Office – told police staff in England and Wales to expect a 0 per cent pay increase – with £250 for those on less than £24,000

With inflation running at 3.9 per cent the offer represents a hefty pay cut.

Jim Kennedy, Unite national officer, said: “This is an absolute kick in the teeth for police staff. They have been left stunned and angry by this announcement.

“Police staff have gone beyond the call of duty in the last 18 months to ensure that services were maintained and the public were kept safe in the most difficult and stressful circumstances.

“Workers are already grossly underpaid for the difficult and challenging roles they undertake. This pay cut will result in skilled, dedicated and talented workers leaving the service as they will be able to earn more in less stressful roles in other sectors.

“This is yet another example of how confidence in Priti Patel the home secretary is draining away, she either has no clue about the role of police staff in ensuring that the police service remains fully operational or she doesn’t care.”

George Georgiou, GMB national officer for police staff, said: “This response to our reasonable and moderate pay claim for police staff will be rightly viewed as an insult by the thousands of them who have put their lives on the line during the past 16 months to keep the country safe.

“The Home Secretary heaps praise on them, then offers them a pay cut. It’s rank hypocrisy. Police Staff will be disgusted at this abject injustice. We will be meeting shortly to consider next steps.”

Ben Priestley, UNISON National Officer for police staff, said: “Police staff salaries have lost nearly a third of their buying power in the past ten years.

“This attempt by the employers to impose a pay freeze, leaving them even worse off, is a disgrace.

“Staff have worked tirelessly to keep their communities safe during the pandemic. They deserve better and employers must improve the offer.”

Earlier it was announced that National Chair of the Police Federation John Apter has written a forthright letter to Downing Street expressing how our membership feels towards the Government, demanding it overturns its zero percent pay award decision and calling for a fairer pay review system, not influenced by government.

The action follows last week’s National Council meeting where those present voted through a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the Home Secretary and agreed to walk away from the ‘not fit for purpose’ Police Remuneration Review Body.

The letter states: “This is about much more than money, though for many the offer of a zero per cent pay rise, after all the police has been through in helping deal with the pandemic, was the final straw.
“It is about the risks you asked us to take – which we did, because it is our duty – without proper PPE. It is about the endlessly changing and confusing Covid legislation which we were expected to police – which we did, because it is our duty. It is about your mixed messaging and lack of understanding of our role, which combined to put many of our members in invidious positions which led to them being abused and attacked.

“It is about the failure, despite the promises of the Home Secretary, to take seriously our request that police officers should be given early priority for vaccination. It is about the very strong feeling we have, not least when the Prime Minister and Home Secretary spoke at our Annual Conference, that the warm words flow easily, but the actions that show genuine support for the police do not.”

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