Police Federation launches legal action against government for 'cheating officers out of pay rise they deserve'

An association representing 120,000 police officers has launched legal action accusing the government of “cheating officers out of the pay increase they should receive”.

The Police Federation said it had lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision to ignore an independent body’s recommended 3 per cent increase amid a rise in crime, demand and the terror threat.

It called the government’s 2 per cent award “derisory”, saying it amounted to an average of £2.50 a week after a survey showed a record number of officers taking second jobs to supplement their income.

John Apter, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “In response to this betrayal and based on legal advice we have instructed solicitors to formally proceed with a judicial review against the home secretary on the basis that he has stated that the pay decision was a Government decision and not his decision alone.

“Now more than ever it is imperative pay is adequate and fair acknowledging the incredibly demanding job officers do.

“It is unacceptable to see officers struggling to make ends meet whilst working all the hours under the sun to keep the public safe because there simply aren’t enough officers to meet the increasing demand.”

Mr Apter said there was a “deep sense of anger” over the government’s decision, adding: “This is why we have taken this action and make no apology for doing so. Doing nothing was simply not an option and it is right and proper that we legally challenge this unfairness.”

The Conservatives created the independent Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) in 2014 but has ignored its recommendations for two years in a row.

Last month, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick described the decision not to follow the recommendation as a “punch on the nose”, warning that it had affected morale and recruitment.

Sajid Javid has been challenged on the issue at a series of police conferences this year, winning cautious support for vowing to fight for more money in a government-wide spending review.

In September he told the Police Superintendents’ Association that Theresa May had not blocked the pay rise and that ministers had taken a “collective” decision.

Mr Javid said he took the PRRB’s recommendations seriously but added: “There are recommendations across the board for millions of public sector workers, we have to as a government take them all into account – you’re trying to get that balance between affordability, what is recommended and fairness to taxpayers.”

The government claimed 2 per cent was the “maximum affordable award” according to police employers.

“We must have confidence in an independent pay review system and for that to be ignored by government undermines the whole process,” Mr Apter said.

“It is a disgrace that for the second year running the Home Office has cheated police officers out of the pay increase they should receive.”

A leaked letter sent to Downing Street said the home secretary had been “strongly in favour” of following the PRRB’s recommendation, and set out his view that blocking the 3 per cent rise was the “wrong decision”.

Mr Javid, whose brother is a senior officer in West Midlands Police, has been working to improve officers’ relationship with the government after the open hostility towards his predecessors Theresa May and Amber Rudd.

Police consider him “on probation” and many senior officers say they are withholding judgment on his promises until the government-wide spending review.

Mr Javid has also backed a boost in the use of stop and search to help tackle the deadly spate of serious violence on Britain’s streets.

The legal dispute came after the latest police figures showed knife crime hitting a record high in England and Wales, amid rises in wider violence, murder, robbery and other offences.

The number of police officers has fallen by almost 22,000 since 2010 but the government denies budget cuts have caused the rise in crime.

Its serious violence strategy, launched in April, was criticised after omitting a Home Office document suggesting police cuts had “likely contributed” to rising violence and “encouraged” offenders.

The finished document blamed drug dealing and the rise of “county line” gangs for driving stabbings and shootings, and a review of drug misuse is underway.

Police forces have been forced prioritise what crimes they respond to, sparking warnings that they are “failing the public”.

Separate research showed that victims’ confidence in the justice system was plummeting with almost half of all criminal investigations in England and Wales are closed with no suspects identified.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are grateful to all police officers for the incredible job they do — and will continue to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively.

“The police pay award for 2018-19 represents the highest consolidated pay award since 2010. And the number of people joining police forces is at a 10-year high, which demonstrates policing is still a desirable and sought-after career.

“We are unable to comment, however, on potential future legal proceedings.”