Police Chiefs submit evidence on police officer pay

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) is an independent body that makes officer pay recommendations to government. The government will then consider the PRRB recommendation and respond in July.

Pay for police staff is considered separately, but any pay recommendations for officers from the PRRB will be taken into account when staff pay is considered.

The past decade has been incredibly challenging for police pay. Central to the submission is the fact that since 2010, the real term pay of officers has decreased by 17 per cent and has eroded the pay premium, which is designed to compensate officers for the unique nature of their work.

We are saying that progression through pay bands or through promotion only partly offsets this decrease in real terms pay and should not be seen as a replacement to a properly funded pay award linked to the cost of living, as these increases reflect increased responsibility and accountability.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Pay and Conditions, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, said:

“Police officers deserve fair pay that reflects their unique duties and contribution to society, including their responsibility to run toward danger, as well as recognising that they are restricted in taking on second jobs and are not allowed to strike.

“Any pay award should recognise the impact of the cost of living on officers and be fully funded.

“We have submitted our evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body and ask that their recommendations to government on pay take all of these factors into consideration.”

Our submission can be read here.