Police leaders call for investment in officer pay
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has submitted evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) to consider in setting the pay uplift for policing from September 2026.
This sets out the case for a “fair and affordable” pay uplift of 3.5 per cent, reflecting the “rising complexity and demands of modern policing”. Alongside the annual pay uplift, the submission also includes updates to the allowances officers are entitled to.
The submission makes clear that the pay award must be fully funded, as any uplift above 2.5 per cent that is not fully funded will place essential policing services at risk. It highlights the significant workforce and financial pressures facing forces, including rising demand, wellbeing concerns and tightening budgets, while stressing the need to balance investment in people with new technology to deliver an effective police service.
Chief constables have carefully considered the wider labour market, the unique demands of policing, and the significant responsibility officers carry every day to keep the public safe.
The proposed 3.5 per cent uplift across all ranks is designed not only to maintain competitiveness, but also to support retention and career progression throughout the service, ensuring we have officers and leaders of the service who have the right standards, culture and behaviours, and who are equipped to deliver the reforms to policing outlined in the Government’s recently published White Paper.
NPCC lead for Pay and Conditions, Deputy Chief Officer Philip Wells, said: “Policing operates under a national pay structure, where based on recommendations by the pay review bodies, government determines the national pay award. This is the only recourse for policing given officers cannot strike.
“Our submission recognises uncertainty in inflation forecasts, which may shift as we approach the PRRB’s decision making window. However, full funding is vital to protect frontline services, including neighbourhood policing commitments within the Government’s manifesto, and to support the wider reform programme set out in the recent white paper.
“We are calling for a settlement that keeps pace with the cost of living, recognises the unique demands of policing, and properly rewards officers for the increasingly complex work and additional hours they commit to keeping the public safe. It must ensure policing keeps pace with wider earnings trends to ensure officers are fully supported and motivated.”