Northumbria Police Federation has met the Force’s chief constable to express concern at the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) submission to the annual pay review process.
In its report to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), the NPCC has indicated that it would support a 3.5 per cent pay increase if fully funded, falling to 2.5 per cent if not.
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), meanwhile, is calling for a minimum seven per cent pay award in each of the next three years to reset a real-terms cut to officer wages of 21 per cent in the past 15 years.
PFEW has expressed its disappointment that the NPCC ‘was ready to accept such a low settlement’.
That view was reiterated by branch chair Nick Munnelly and secretary Neil Watkin when they met Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine.
Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine
Nick said: “As your local branch representatives, we share the same concerns highlighted by PFEW, especially at a time when we continue to experience a real-term pay reduction of 21 per cent since 2009.
“Above all, we think you should be paid fairly for the extraordinary public service and sacrifices you undertake.
“We have voiced our concerns directly to Chief Constable Jardine.
“We elaborated on how, if the NPCC 2026 submissions of concern are accepted by the PRRB, they will undermine your work and dedicated service, contradict their own warnings around the frail state of policing, and ultimately erode your pay and conditions.
Public office
“Your pay must consider the unique position you hold in public office and especially the restrictions on your private life.”
Nick and Neil also spoke of their long-standing concerns around the PRRB process.
Those concerns are:
- The remit letter from the Government to the PRRB sets out the areas to address for each year
- The PRRB is a panel of members selected by the Government
- There is no opportunity for collective bargaining within the process. Once submissions by stakeholders are made the PRRB decide their recommendations in isolation
- These recommendations are then sent back to the Government who can choose to either accept, reject, or modify them, i.e. there is no binding arbitration
Nick added: “It is our view that recommendations should be made with no political interference and with no reference to the money available within policing.
Affordable
“If recommendations are made that are simply not affordable, then it is our view that it is for the Government to decide not to implement them.”
Federation members have been emailed with a summary of PFEW’s submission to the PRRB.
The submission sets out proposals to restore fair pay and protect officers’ terms and conditions.
“PFEW’s submissions to the PRRB are reasonable recommendations to restore fair pay and to ensure your terms and conditions are protected, and in other cases enhanced,” said Nick.
Chief Constable Jardine has committed to responding to the concerns raised.
Nick ended: “We are grateful to the Chief Constable for taking the time to meet with the Federation. She listened, and hopefully heard our concerns. We look forward to her response in due course.
“Rest assured, we will continue to keep members up-to-date.”