PSAEW comment on pay increase for police officers
Following the announcement today (6th December) by the Home Secretary on the 2007 pay increase for police officers Ch Supt Patrick Stayt, representing Superintendents from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland says:-
“We feel angry and badly let down by this Government decision. The award by the Police Arbitration Tribunal should have been implemented in full and in the way they recommended. What is the point of a regulated pay negotiation system, which is set in statute and which has served the Service and the country well for many years, if one party to the process can ride roughshod over the final outcome?
The Government decision has thrown the relationship between officers and Government into turmoil and it represents a total breakdown in trust between us. Their decision calls into question the whole machinery of how police pay and conditions of service are dealt with, although perhaps that was always the Government intention. It was both dishonest and dishonourable of the Government to even enter the pay talks – which have gone on throughout 2007 – when it is clear that from Day 1 they had no intention of sticking to any agreement or outcome. Perhaps the Home Office, who appear to be no more than puppets to the Treasury, should not have wasted everyone’s time and just let those of us representing officers deal directly with the people calling the tune in Number 10 and Number 11 Downing Street.
Officers have been badly let down by the Government – the very people who should be standing up for them. It is no good the Government offering any platitudes about how much they value the work that officers do – actions speak louder than hollow words; saying something to your face whilst taking money from your back pocket is not an honourable thing to do. Those responsible should be hanging their heads in shame. The fact that officers do not enjoy the normal employment rights of others and are thus limited in what they can do when treated so badly puts them in a weak position. But then again the Government will be well aware of this and perhaps goes some way to explain their disgraceful decision.
The Home Secretary has also given a clear indication that the Government is looking to introduce a Pay Review Body to the Police Service. The problem is that the Government have an advantage over us on this as they have been sitting on the report by Sir Clive Booth which has led them to take this view for a number of weeks. We have not seen the report that we were promised would be the subject of discussion. Once again, the Government appear to be planning to dismiss the views of others and as a result are setting themselves against the entire Service – not just police officers. Who else, apart from the Government is in favour of a Pay Review Body?
However, despite being angry and despite feeling undervalued by the Government Superintendents and Chief Superintendents will continue their work to lead the delivery of policing to our communities. It would be wrong to allow this dispute with the Government to have a detrimental effect on those who need us, especially in these times of heightened terrorist threat and overstretched resources.
-01.png){kind=spacer}