The Police and Crime Commissioner in West Mercia has discussed how policing cuts are to be expected this year, with the government not funding officers’ pay increases.
Last week, the Chancellor outlined how the government will accept the recommendations of independent public sector Pay Review Bodies, meaning that police officers will be given a pay increase of 4.75%. Announcing the pay rises, the Chancellor said:
“That is the right decision for the people who work in and most importantly the people who use our public services.
“Giving hardworking staff the pay rise they deserve, while ensuring we can recruit and retain the people we need.”
Despite this, analysis has suggested that the government will not be funding all of this pay increase, West Mercia PCC John Campion has explained that this will mean that West Mercia Police in particular will be left needing to make almost £1 million of cuts this year.
John Campion, West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said:
“Our police officers and staff are well deserving of a pay rise given their extraordinary work. However, the government is looking to take the credit without paying the bill. Not fully funding this increase will force local police to make urgent and unnecessary cuts to services and undermines work to keep our communities safe.
“Along with other areas, in West Mercia we have followed previous government advice in budgeting for a pay rise in line with inflation this year. This decision sees the new government move the goalposts and effectively impose unnecessary cuts on police forces nationwide. I wrote to the new government previously to raise this concern and will do so again now. Supporting our police officers and staff must be balanced with protecting our local services.”
The requirement for police forces to make cuts in order to meet pay increase demands comes at a turbulent time, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council outlining that many forces are facing significant budgetary challenges already. Alongside this, the last week has seen towns and cities around the country needing their police to keep communities safe during violent disorder.
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Video credit: Parliament TV
