Northumbria Police Federation is throwing its full support behind a national campaign called ‘Copped Enough’ that has been launched today to mark International Workers’ Day (1 May) to expose the police pay crisis.
While this day celebrates the dignity of work and every employee’s right to fair pay and safe conditions, police officers are facing relentless violence, trauma and risk on the job, all while their real-terms income has dropped by 20 per cent since 2010.
Launched by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Copped Enough: What the Police Take Home is Criminal is urging for police pay to be restored and officers to be protected.
Nick Munnelly, chair of Northumbria Police Federation, said: “This is a national crisis. We need real pay reform, not just for the sake of policing but for the sake of protecting the public.
“It’s a fact that our members are being underpaid and overworked, and if action isn’t taken soon, policing will break.
“We’re not complaining, we called this out 10 years ago, but nothing changed. This is now a matter of urgency.”
The campaign calls for action in three areas:
1. Restore police pay
- Urgent and fully-funded pay restoration
- Introduce a ‘P-Factor’ allowance to reflect the unique demands and risks of policing
- A binding, independent pay review system, free from political interference
2. Stop the exodus of experienced officers
- Develop retention packages for skilled officers
- Implement a national workforce strategy focused on experience, not just recruitment numbers
- Improve work-life balance with better parental leave, protected rest days, and career transition support
3. Protect Frontline Officers
- Enforce tougher sentencing for those who assault police
- Centralised funding for police treatment centres
- Mandatory national recording of suicides and suicide attempts in the service, with dedicated mental health support
The campaign comes on the same day as the recent Pay and Morale Survey 2024 results have been released, which revealed that 78 per cent of those who participated in Northumbria Police said they are financially worse off now than they were five years ago.
The survey highlighted the reality for officers in Northumbria:
- 89 per cent of participants feel their cost of living has increased in the last month
- 67 per cent said that they are ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration (including basic pay and allowances).
- 82 per cent feel that morale in Force is ‘low’ or ‘very low’
- 93 per cent admit to not feeling valued by the Government
“These figures come as no surprise, but that doesn’t make them any less tragic,” said Nick.
Fair pay
“To hear that 78 per cent of participants feel worse off now than they did five years ago is extremely disappointing, especially when the pressures and demands they face are only increasing.
“Our members are putting their lives on the line each day to protect the public. They deserve to be supported properly with fair pay that reflects the risks and sacrifices they make.”
Northumbria Police Federation stands united with the national campaign and calls on local MPs, chief officers, and community leaders to back police officers by delivering the fair pay and support they urgently need.
The public is being urged to stand with police and their families by joining a digital picket line at www.polfed.org/campaigns/copped-enough