By James Simons-
British Police officers will be awarded a pay rise of 2% in 2018-19, it has been announced. The effect of the rise will mean that average pay for a police constable will now be more than £38,600 per year.
The increase will consist of a 2% pay increase for all police officer ranks a 2% increase to the London weighting payment of 2% increase to the dog handlers’ allowance. The police force has suffered from underfunding for Throughout Theresa May’s time as prime minister, leading to less applicants to the force than desirable in a climate of rising crime.
Given the huge importance of the police in society, it is right that they are valued highly enough to get a pay rise in appreciation of their much needed service. The news comes at the same time as an announcement that members of the Armed Forces will also receive the increase in their September pay packets, backdated to 1 April 2018.
A one-off 0.9% payment will also be made to bring salaries in line with the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s (AFPRB) 2018-19 recommendation of 2.9%.
In deciding the award, the government has strived to strike a balance between overall affordability to forces and fairness to the taxpayer, recognising the importance of continuing to reduce debt as a share of the economy whilst investing in vital public services.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:
Our police officers do an incredible job in the face of complex crime and rising demand, and I’m grateful for their continued dedication to keeping us safe. This award represents the highest consolidated pay award since 2010.
I’ll continue to fight on behalf of police to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively.
The award comes after the government removed a 1% cap on increases to public sector pay in 2017.The UK government has delivered a £460 million increase in overall funding to policing in 2018-19, including increased funding for local policing through council tax precept. This funding will enable forces to meet the costs of the pay award. Police forces are also holding around £1.6 billion of public money in reserves as at March 2017.
The PRRB had recommended that the 1% non-consolidated award received in 2017-18 be consolidated, and that a further 2% consolidated award be given to all police officers.
Police employers, however, advised that the maximum affordable award would be a 2% increase. This was recommended by both the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).
The PRRB report also noted that police forces have achieved increased efficiencies over the past year. However, the government is clear there is more to be done in this area, and has identified over £100 million of potential savings for police in better procurement alone.
Policing remains a desirable career and the number of people joining police forces is at a 10-year high.
The government has accepted in full the PRRB’s recommendations on pay for Police Constable degree apprenticeships. Forces should appoint apprentice constables on a starting salary of between £18,000 and pay point 1