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| Lifting the cap on police pay won't magically raise morale | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Seven years of cuts have left police officers angry and dismayed. Lifting the pay cap isn’t going to help forces with recruitment and retention | |
| Paul McFarlane | |
| Partner, Weightmans LLP | |
| Wed 4 Oct 2017 07.23 BST | |
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| The Conservative government may have hoped that lifting the public sector pay cap for police officers would make it easier for police forces to recruit and retain officers. | The Conservative government may have hoped that lifting the public sector pay cap for police officers would make it easier for police forces to recruit and retain officers. |
| But the distinctive nature of the police sector means this remains unlikely. A number of factors, including low morale, low unemployment levels and relatively high inflation, mean that the government’s recent decision to lift the public sector pay cap for police officers is unlikely to improve recruitment and retention problems. | But the distinctive nature of the police sector means this remains unlikely. A number of factors, including low morale, low unemployment levels and relatively high inflation, mean that the government’s recent decision to lift the public sector pay cap for police officers is unlikely to improve recruitment and retention problems. |
| Since 2010 public sector workers have faced, first a pay freeze and then, from 2013, a pay cap of 1%. In December 2016 the independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) recommended officers should receive a pay increase of 2.8%. | Since 2010 public sector workers have faced, first a pay freeze and then, from 2013, a pay cap of 1%. In December 2016 the independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) recommended officers should receive a pay increase of 2.8%. |
| Following the Conservative’s failure to secure a majority in June’sgeneral election, due in some part to austerity politics such as the public sector pay cap, ministers recently announced that for police officers, at least, the pay cap would be lifted. They would receive a 1% rise plus a 1% bonus, funded from existing budgets. | Following the Conservative’s failure to secure a majority in June’sgeneral election, due in some part to austerity politics such as the public sector pay cap, ministers recently announced that for police officers, at least, the pay cap would be lifted. They would receive a 1% rise plus a 1% bonus, funded from existing budgets. |
| But I fear this will not make it easier for police forces to recruit and retain officers. | But I fear this will not make it easier for police forces to recruit and retain officers. |
| The Institute of Fiscal Studies has produced a briefing note looking at the retention of police officers in England and Wales. Its key findings were: | The Institute of Fiscal Studies has produced a briefing note looking at the retention of police officers in England and Wales. Its key findings were: |
| police officers, unlike virtually all other occupations in the UK, have security of tenure, are not employees and cannot be made redundant | police officers, unlike virtually all other occupations in the UK, have security of tenure, are not employees and cannot be made redundant |
| fluctuations in the size of the police officer workforce are largely driven by changes in entry rates rather than exit rates | fluctuations in the size of the police officer workforce are largely driven by changes in entry rates rather than exit rates |
| Forces located in areas where there are better outside local labour market opportunities, eg higher wages and lower unemployment are statistically associated with higher resignation rates. | Forces located in areas where there are better outside local labour market opportunities, eg higher wages and lower unemployment are statistically associated with higher resignation rates. |
| The IFS report suggests that the government’s changes on pay for police officers will have little, if any, positive effect on retention rates. This is due to the unusual nature of the police labour market. | The IFS report suggests that the government’s changes on pay for police officers will have little, if any, positive effect on retention rates. This is due to the unusual nature of the police labour market. |
| But in addition, the pay freeze and subsequent pay cap that officers have endured since 2010 has resulted in a 14.6% real term reduction in pay, according to the PRRB, whichfound 71% of officers said pay and benefits had a negative effect on morale. | But in addition, the pay freeze and subsequent pay cap that officers have endured since 2010 has resulted in a 14.6% real term reduction in pay, according to the PRRB, whichfound 71% of officers said pay and benefits had a negative effect on morale. |
| With inflation reported at 2.9% last month and unemployment at its lowest levels since the mid 1970s it is unlikely that the government’s very modest rise will improve recruitment and retention problems of police forces. | With inflation reported at 2.9% last month and unemployment at its lowest levels since the mid 1970s it is unlikely that the government’s very modest rise will improve recruitment and retention problems of police forces. |
| That’s certainly the view of Calum Macleod, vice chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, who said that the decision on the pay cap has been “dressed up to sound like a rise” – but in actual fact is not and relies on chief constables to find the funds. Macleod has said that officers are angry and dismayed, adding that there are no signs whatsoever that the pay rise has boosted morale and in fact it has just served to cause more contempt. | That’s certainly the view of Calum Macleod, vice chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, who said that the decision on the pay cap has been “dressed up to sound like a rise” – but in actual fact is not and relies on chief constables to find the funds. Macleod has said that officers are angry and dismayed, adding that there are no signs whatsoever that the pay rise has boosted morale and in fact it has just served to cause more contempt. |
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