The plan to strongly oppose the freezing of police salaries has been confirmed by the government. government
In a written ministerial statement Commons On Wednesday, the Minister of the Interior Pritty Patel Said police officers earning more than £24,000 will be hit by the freeze. Those with lower incomes will increase by £250 a year.
She said: “As stated in the Expenditure Review (2020), the overall salary increase for most of the public sector workforce will be suspended in 2021-22.
The suspension ensures that we can return public finances to the path of sustainable development after unprecedented government expenditures
“This is to ensure fairness between public and private sector wage growth, because the private sector has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, including reduced working hours, suppressed income growth, and increased layoffs, while the public sector has been greatly affected. The extent is protected from these influences.
“This approach will protect public sector work and investment in public services. Priority is given to those with the lowest income. Those with an income of less than £24,000 (full-time equivalent) will receive an increase of at least £250.
“After the government has made unprecedented expenditures in response to Covid-19, the suspension ensures that we can put public finances back on the path of sustainable development.”
John Apter The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents ordinary police officers, said the pay system was “not in line with the purpose”.
We were forced to enter an inherently unfair process from the beginning, and the odds of winning were firmly in favor of the government
He said: “The police have been working on the front lines of this pandemic for 18 months and will now see a 1.5% increase in firefighters and local government workers in England, and they have found nothing. This is further proof that not all public services are available. Being treated equally by the current government, some public services are more valuable than others.”
He said that the National Federation will consult members on how to promote changes to the police pay system.
“The current police pay system is not suitable for the purpose. We were forced to enter an essentially unfair process from the beginning, and the government seems to have made a decision when setting the parameters for the pay review agency.
“Now we must review this process and find alternatives. A solution centered on the best interests of police pay. We will seek the opinions of our members and hold emergency meetings with 43 federation branches from England and Wales To discuss our next move.”
The Police Federation, which represents more than 120,000 police officers from police officers to chief inspectors, stated that police officers have actually reduced their salaries by 18% in ten years.
Workers working for the National Crime Agency are also facing wage freezes.
Labour Party’s Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Simons He said: “This is a blow to the police who have served the country so bravely during the pandemic.
“Not only do they face the risk of contracting Covid, but in the past year, attacks on military officers have soared. In response, they should have a government that supports them.
“One day, ministers will applaud and praise frontline workers in Parliament-next time it will be through an insulting actual pay cut, again a completely shameful hypocrisy, especially from Priti Patel.”
