Assembly wants fully funded pay rise for the Met

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been under immense pressure with crime across London.

The London Assembly has today called on the Government to fully fund the cost of any pay rise announced in the 2019/20 police pay awards.

Unmesh Desai AM, who proposed the motion said:

“Following unprecedented cuts to the Met police budget, a removal of core social safety nets, and rising crime, our police officers are under greater pressure than ever before. It is atrocious that their pay does not reflect this.

“The Government’s decision to ignore last year’s recommendation by the Police Renumeration Review Body and reward them a lower pay increase than expected would have felt like a slap in the face to many of those serving our capital.

“It’s vital the Government are fair and transparent in the way they determine officers’ pay and I’d urge the Mayor to put pressure on them to give a pay rise which reflects the amazing work of Met police officers.”

The full text of the motion is:

2018 was another year in which the Metropolitan Police Service was placed under serious strain. The number of violent crimes committed rose, the threat from terrorism remained severe and there have been a number of high-profile protests for the police to oversee. This Assembly praises the dedication and bravery of police officers, special constables and PCSOs who keep Londoners safe.

The Assembly notes that the Home Office awarded police officers a 2% pay rise in the police pay award for 2018/19. However, this was less than the 3% rise recommended the Police Renumeration Review Body. ^[1] Furthermore, the decision to not consolidate the 1% unconsolidated award made in 2017/18 meant the real terms pay rise was less than 1%. ^[2]

London weighting was also increased by 2% in the Home Office’s decision on the police pay award. However, the Metropolitan Police Service had recommended a fundamental review of London allowances and called for the Commissioner to be given the ability to increase core London allowances by up to 33% to deal with recruitment and retention of officers, in the context of rising costs of living, particularly with housing. ^[3]

In January 2019, the Home Secretary wrote to the Police Remuneration Review Body, asking it to conduct the annual review of police pay for 2019/20. The Assembly notes that the MPS is calling for the consolidation of the non-consolidated three year pay settlement of 4% in 2019, 0% in 2020 and 2% in 2021^[4]; and that police staff associations have called for a 5% pay rise in each of these years. ^[5]

Police officers are legally banned from going on strike and so it is essential that the process of setting their levels of pay is transparent and fair. Following the Home office’s decision to ignore the recommendation of the independent Police Renumeration Review Body, the Police Federation have taken the unprecedented step of instigating a judicial review of the process.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor to write to the Government asking that it ensures that police officers are given a pay rise which reflects the excellent work police officers undertake in London and which takes into account the recommendations of the Police Renumeration Review Body. The Government should fully fund the cost of any pay rise announced in the 2019/20 police pay awards to give the MPS the confidence to fairly remunerate police officers for their outstanding work keeping London safe, without the need to compromise other parts of the Service.