4.2 per cent pay rise for police officers across England and Wales

The increase applies to all ranks up to and including chief superintendents.

The pay increase will mean the starting salary for a police constable will be £31,163, up to £1,256. The typical salary for a constable who has been in post six years will be £50,257 and the average earning for a chief superintendent will be £98,500. In addition to the headline pay rise, the Government is also increasing On-call, Away from Home, and Hardship Allowances by £10.

The Government says the pay boost reflects the “bravery, professionalism and tireless dedication of officers” who protect the public, and will be supported by £120 million from the Home Office to help protect police force budgets.

In addition to the headline pay rise, the Government is also increasing On-call, Away from Home, and Hardship Allowances by £10.

London Weighting will be boosted by 4.2 per cent, reflecting the demands placed on officers in the capital.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Our brave police officers work day and night, often making enormous sacrifices, to keep us safe. This government is proud to back them in doing so and today’s pay award is a clear signal of our gratitude, and our determination, to ensure they are properly rewarded for their service.

“Policing is the bedrock of a secure Britain and our Plan for Change. We are committed to investing in the front line and supporting officers who work every day to tackle crime, keep our streets safe and protect our communities.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said in its desire to keep communities safe, “it is essential that we can attract and retain the best people into policing through competitive pay”.

It added: “Policing faces increasing demands, growing complexity and our workforce continues to face threats to their own safety. The personal impact on them is great, and this must be recognised with pay commensurate to the incredibly challenging nature of their role.

“The pay award announced today by Government, of 4.2 per cent is in line with the recommendation of the pay review body. We recognise this is above inflation, but it does make inroads into the pay erosion felt by our officers.”

NPCC lead for pay and conditions, Assistant Chief Officer Philip Wells, said: “We are pleased that the pay review body recognised the evidence that was presented by chief constables and the pay award that has been announced today is what we believe our officers deserve and reflects the nature of the work they are required to undertake to keep our streets safe.

“Today, the Home Secretary also announced an extra £120 million towards funding the pay award. With more than 85 per cent of police spend being on pay costs, it is vitally important that additional costs for pay are fully funded if we are to maintain services and be able to continue to invest in areas such as neighbourhood policing and technology.”

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners joint finance leads for finance Roger Hirst, PCC for Essex and Joy Allen, PCC for Durham, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to implement in full the Police Remuneration Review Body’s recommendation of a 4.2 per cent pay award for police officers. This reflects the professionalism and dedication shown by officers across the country in keeping the public safe.

“However, this uplift exceeds the salary provisions budgeted by the majority of police forces. While the additional £120 million announced by the Home Office is a step in the right direction, it does not fully account for the wider financial impact on forces – including overtime, pensions and broader pay-related costs.

“Forces are already contending with significant inflationary pressures and rising demand. Without a comprehensive and sustainable funding settlement, this award could result in difficult choices that may affect the delivery of policing services and long-term workforce planning.

“We remain committed to working with the Government to ensure police forces are adequately resourced to maintain public confidence, support officer wellbeing, and meet the growing complexity of policing in today’s society.”

But Police Federation of England and Wales deputy national chair Brian Booth said: “Today’s pay award of 4.2 per cent barely treads water, with inflation currently at 4.1 per cent.

“We note that chief constables argued for a pay rise of just 3.8 per cent. We welcome the Government’s decision to reject that position and instead listen to the strong case we have been making on behalf of police officers across the country.

“However, after more than a decade of real terms pay cuts, this award does little to reverse the long-term decline in officers’ living standards or address the crisis policing faces. A pay rise worth the price of a Big Mac per shift won’t stop record levels of resignations, record mental health absences, or the record number of assaults on officers.

“We will now ask our members whether they accept or reject this award.”

Police Superintendents’ Association national secretary Warren Franklin said: “We welcome today’s pay settlement for policing, following the sustained de-valuing of the police service in recent months and years. It is far higher than the low increase recommended by the Government and is close to the 4.8 per cent increase we recommended in this year’s PRRB submission, for all ranks.

“We also specifically asked that any pay award is centrally funded, ensuring forces will not have to find the money amidst ongoing budget constraints. This has happened, and is absolutely crucial in supporting forces throughout the ongoing funding crisis. Too many forces are being forced to make widespread cuts, reducing their headcounts, and urgent action is required to stop this.

“Whilst police pay remains far below what it was in 2010 in real terms, this is a positive step forward, and we hope it is the beginning of a period in which policing will be rightly recognised and valued for its critical role in society.

“Looking ahead, we hope that the government will now commit to a wider, long-term funding strategy that recognises the unique and vital role of our service and that enables forces to deliver on the ambitious targets set out by government.”