Norfolk Police Federation chairman calls for fair pay for county’s officers

It is time to pay police officers properly for their hard work and the risks they face, according to a body representing staff.

This follows the news that chief constables have recommended officers receive a pay award of 3.8 per cent.

In its recent submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recommended an annual pay uplift of 3.8 per cent for officers from September.

Meanwhile, staff associations for chief officers, superintendents and chief superintendents have recommended a higher pay uplift of 4.8 per cent.

Norfolk Police Federation chairman Andy Symonds said he had met Norfolk MPs to discuss the “huge unfairness” of the current pay award process for officers.

He added: “A 3.8 per cent pay award goes nowhere near what is required to recruit and retain the best people. We are still over 20 per cent down on where we should be.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales says there has been a degradation of pay for front-line officers of 21 per cent since 2009.

Mr Symonds said he understood that chief constables have to balance their budgets, but they should be asking for a pay award that properly reflects the pressures on their officers.

“Last year, chief officers recommended six per cent to the pay review body, which they ignored and awarded 4.75 per cent – the lowest pay uplift of any public-sector pay review body,” he added.

“This is yet more evidence that the police pay review system is broken beyond repair, lacks independence and fails every year to take into account the unique nature of police work.”

“It is time to pay my colleagues properly. They put their mental and physical health at risk and continue to work at breakneck speed to cope with every demand thrown at them. The work is relentless.”