Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

New Police Officers: Entry Pay Rates

Monday 14 November 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jonathan Edwards inquired about discussions on entry pay rates for new police officers, to which the response cited the Police Remuneration Review Body's recommendations and a 1,900 consolidated pay increase.
  • Edwards also noted that police officers have experienced a 20% real-terms pay cut over the past decade, affecting new recruits and existing officers, to which the response highlighted the Government's acceptance of the review body's recommendations for pay increases.
  • Boris Johnson praised the impact of entry pay rates on attracting new recruits to the Metropolitan police, to which the Home Secretary agreed and commended Johnson's efforts in increasing police numbers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jonathan Edwards PC
Policing & Resources
Context

No specific background provided, but it relates to discussions about the adequacy of entry pay rates.

Question

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues and relevant stakeholders on the adequacy of entry pay rates for new police officers?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The independent Police Remuneration Review Body makes recommendations to the Government on the pay and allowances for police officers. In July, we announced that we had accepted the review body's recommendation to award a consolidated increase of £1,900 at all pay points with effect from 1 September, targeted at the lowest-paid to provide an uplift of up to 8.8%.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question asked about discussions on the adequacy of entry pay rates, but the answer focused on announcing a recent increase in pay without addressing any specific discussions or assessments of adequacy.

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Q2 Jonathan Edwards PC
Policing & Resources
Context

The MP highlights the issue with new recruits and current officers facing a significant real-terms cut in pay over the past decade, leading to financial difficulties.

Question

Police officers inform me that they have faced a 20% real-terms pay cut over the past decade, and there seems to be a particular problem with new recruits. My local federation tells me that some of its officers are using food banks and that a potential new recruit decided to continue his career with a fast food chain because he had been offered a pay rise. Does the Secretary of State admit that pay and remuneration for police officers—professionals who put their lives in danger on our behalf—is a real problem?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Government recognise that increases in the cost of living are having a significant impact on the lower-paid. In that context, and after careful consideration, we chose to accept in full the review body's recommendations to award the consolidated increases that I mentioned. We want to ensure that there is support for our officers, who play a vital role in this country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging the impact of cost-of-living increases on lower-paid workers and announcing pay increases, the answer does not directly address whether the Secretary of State acknowledges the issue as a significant problem.

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Q3 Boris Johnson Con
Policing & Resources
Context

The MP references the positive impact of entry pay rates on attracting new recruits and asks about a specific location for a police station.

Question

Given that on the streets of London alone, entry pay rates have already attracted 4,734 more police officers to join the Metropolitan police, and given how vital it is to continue to provide the right place for those new recruits to be properly trained, does the Home Secretary agree that Uxbridge remains the most sensible place in Hillingdon to have a place station? Will she join me in passing that view to the present Mayor of London?

Answer from Suella Braverman

My right hon. Friend speaks a lot of sense, as usual. He is absolutely right and he has a huge amount of which to be proud when it comes to increasing the numbers of police officers on the frontline fighting crime and standing up for victims, which Labour has opposed at every opportunity. If I may make a humble request of him, will he give up some of his precious time to advise the current Mayor of London who is wholly failing on fighting crime, having seen a 9% increase in crime in London? The Mayor really could take some advice from his predecessor.

Not addressed: The question was about agreeing with Boris Johnson on the location for a police station and supporting him to convey this view. Instead of addressing these points, the answer criticises the current mayor's performance in fighting crime.

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Q4 Sarah Jones Lab Croydon West
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement Economy
Context

The MP cites new statistics indicating the high cost of the mini-budget and its negative impacts on policing, including pay cuts, job losses, and a decline in prosecutions.

Question

New statistics published today reveal that the mini-Budget cost even more than we first thought—a staggering £30 billion. That comes on top of 12 years of austerity, which has seen a real-terms pay cut for police and staff, thousands of jobs lost and prosecutions plummet. The Home Secretary was in the Cabinet and the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire was No. 2 in the Treasury at the time of the mini-Budget. Will they both now apologise to our police for the damage they have done?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Government are clear that policing must have a modern pay structure that recognises and rewards skills and competence, rather than time served. In line with that approach, chief constables have the discretion to pay an officer a starting salary of between £23,556 and £26,682 depending on qualifications and experience. The settlement is fair. We want our police officers to be empowered and strong in the fight against crime.

Not addressed: The question asked for an apology regarding the negative impacts of the mini-budget. Instead, the answer provides general comments about modern pay structures without addressing the specific request or acknowledging any damage done.

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