Police pay negotiations are often discussed, but rarely clearly explained.
Many officers are told outcomes without ever seeing the process behind them. This guide explains, in plain English, how police pay negotiations work in England and Wales, who is involved, and why outcomes can feel slow or disconnected from frontline experience.
The short answer
Police pay is negotiated through a statutory process involving the Police Remuneration Review Body, staff associations, chief officers and the government. The final decision rests with ministers, not police forces or staff bodies. This process has not changed.
Who is involved in police pay negotiations
Police pay is not negotiated directly between officers and forces. Key participants include:
- The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB): The independent advisory body.
- Staff associations: Representing officers (e.g., PFEW, PSA, CPOSA).
- Chief officer representatives: Representing the operational leadership.
- The Home Office: The government department responsible for policing.
- The Treasury: Controlling the national budget and public sector pay policy.
Each has a defined role within a formal process.
The role of the Police Remuneration Review Body
The Police Remuneration Review Body is an independent body that considers evidence and makes recommendations on police pay.
It receives submissions from:
- Staff associations
- Chief officers
- Government departments
Its role is advisory. It does not set pay.
The role of staff associations
Staff associations submit evidence on:
- Pay erosion
- Recruitment and retention
- Morale and workload
- Comparative professions
They do not negotiate directly with the government in the way trade unions do.
The role of government
The government ultimately decides whether to accept recommendations, modify them, or delay or reject them. These decisions are heavily influenced by:
- Public sector pay policy
- Economic conditions
- Treasury constraints
Why outcomes can feel disconnected
It is common for there to be a significant lag between the submission of evidence and the final decision. Additionally, pay awards may not match inflation, as national economic decisions often override sector-specific pressures reported by officers and staff associations.
Common Misconceptions
- Police pay is not negotiated locally.
- Forces cannot increase pay independently.
- No organisation can guarantee pay outcomes.
- Pay negotiations are not continuous bargaining.
Common Questions
Who negotiates police pay?
Pay is not negotiated directly but processed via the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), which provides advisory recommendations to the Home Office and Treasury based on evidence from associations and chiefs.
Can police forces increase pay themselves?
No. Police pay scales are set nationally. Individual forces do not have the legal power to deviate from these scales or offer localized cost-of-living increases outside of national agreements.
Why does police pay lag behind inflation?
Decisions are based on national public sector pay policy and Treasury constraints. When these priorities conflict with rising living costs, the resulting pay awards may not match inflation rates.
Has the negotiation process changed?
No. The statutory process established in law (Police Act 1996 as amended) remains the mechanism for all federated ranks.
Do reforms affect pay negotiations?
While structural reforms are proposed, they have not altered the legal framework for how pay is considered or decided.