Police Pay
My opinion on the Government's handling of pay for Police

We all, even the Government, recognise the professionalism and courage of police officers in tackling crime and protecting the public. The services of our policemen and women are valued for their courage and bravery, for their willingness to tackle violent crime, including gun and knife crime, for the reassurance they offer the public and this year, in particular, their incredible response to the flooding in which many officers without hesitation performed above and beyond the call of duty.
In recognition of the work that police officers do and the fact they cannot take industrial action, police officers’ pay had been set on the basis of linking police pay to private sector earnings. But in 2006, for the first time since 1979, police officers were not offered a pay rise in accordance with this principle, despite receiving earlier assurances from the Government.
The Government set up a review by Sir Clive Booth to look at what the pay arrangements for 2007 should be, and then to make recommendations on how police pay and conditions should be negotiated in the future. The first part of the Booth review recommended uprating police pay on the basis of an index linked to public sector wages. The Booth index produced a median figure of 2.325% and the Official Side proposed that this figure should be applied in full to all pay points with effect from 1 September 2007.
An offer was made following a majority decision of the Official Side. The Home Office, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Office stated that they did "not support the proposal that the new index should be applied in full with effect from 1 September 2007" on the grounds that "the offer will not produce an outcome consistent with the UK government objectives including achievement of the CPI inflation target of 2% and affordable and sustainable pay awards."
On the 19th July, the Police Negotiating Board failed to reach an agreement and conciliation talks were organised for the 15th of August. At the conciliation settlement on the 15th of August an agreement was not reached, so the matter was taken to the Police Arbitration Panel.
On the 29th November 2007, the Police Arbitration Panel recommended an award of 2.5% based on the median of an index similar to the Booth index with effect from 1 September 2007 (which is the beginning of the police officer pay year). The Home Secretary announced in Parliament on the 6th December that she was going to accept the recommended 2.5% only with effect from the 1st December – some three months later so leaving officers with a headline annualised increase of 1.9%
The Shadow Ministerial team have spoken to Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation, who left us in no doubt as to the anger police officers feel about the way Jacqui Smith has dealt with police pay. We will continue to question the handling of this issue with the Ministers responsible.
I was happy to sign important EDMs on the issue including EDM 494 which noted that, over the years, the salaries and benefits of police officers have been eroded, yet demands on them are increased all the time; is concerned about the Government's leaked policy on police pay which will be seen by dedicated and hard working police officers across Britain as yet another insult; notes that in real terms a 2.5 per cent. increase leaves officers again with a falling real level of pay; recalls that last year the Government forced police officers to wait three months for their pay increase and that this year's increase will not be backdated to September; and further notes that this effectively reduces the increase to 1.9 per cent.; believes that this is unacceptable, and that this makes recruitment into the police more difficult; and therefore calls on the Government to review its policy as a matter of urgency.
I have also signed EDM 512 which acknowledged the disappointment caused by the failure of the Government to accept in full the recommendations of the Police Arbitration Tribunal police pay award; believes that the pay settlement should be backdated to 1st September; notes that the police are the front line in the fight against organised crime, terrorism and anti-social behaviour; recognises that their work puts them at great personal risk; further believes that this dispute over 0.6 per cent. difference is petty and needless; and calls upon the Government to reconsider its decision.
It is odd that a government that made so much of trade union recognition at Government Communications Headquarters could make such a mess of police pay, while denying full employment rights.

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