Police Increment
Freezes Explained
Can police pay progression be stopped?
Yes — while increments are normally
automatic milestones, they have been frozen nationally in the past
and can be withheld individually for performance.
Trust Notice: Independent explanatory guidance based on Police Regulations 2003 and historic pay settlements.
Quick Summary
- Increments are annual pay point increases within your rank.
- They are entirely separate from national pay awards (% rises).
- In rare global economic crises, increments have been frozen nationally.
- Freezes affect gross salary, pension accrual, and long-term earnings.
Increment freezes are highly unusual — but they remain a tool in the government's fiscal arsenal.
Section 1 – What Is an Increment?
An increment is your automatic annual progression up the pay scale within your current rank. Most ranks in the police service (Constable, Sergeant, Inspector) have a tiered scale where pay increases with every year of service.
Example Progression
This typically happens on the anniversary of your joining or promotion date.
Regulatory Governance
Progression is governed by Police Regulations 2003 (Annex F). It is subject to satisfactory performance and is NOT a discretionary bonus.
Section 2 – Increments vs Pay Awards
The Increment
Moving horizontally into a new pay point category. This changes your base salary significantly (e.g., a £2,000 jump).
The Pay Award
A percentage increase (e.g., 4.75%) applied to every single pay point on the scale.
In a normal year, a developing officer receives both: their annual increment AND the national pay award.
Section 3 – Can Increments Be Frozen?
Yes. However, because increments are established in Police Regulations, the government cannot simply "stop" them without a formal national policy change or regulatory amendment.
National Freeze
Occurs during periods of extreme national debt or public sector pay caps. It affects the entire workforce and requires Home Office direction.
Individual Withholding
Occurs when an officer fails to meet performance standards. This is a local management action governed by capability procedures.
Section 4 – Historical Context
The 2-Year Increment Freeze
As part of the Windsor Reforms and 'Austerity' measures, increments for certain cohorts were suspended or restricted to save multi-million pound sums from the national police budget.
Public Sector Pay Pause
Most officers received zero pay award, though increments continued to be paid. This highlighted how increments protect earnings when national awards are zero.
Section 5 – The Financial Impact
Missing just one increment doesn't just affect this year's payslip — it cascades through your entire career and into retirement.
Take-Home
A missed £2,000 increment equals roughly £120 less in your bank account every month.
Overtime
Since overtime rates are based on your hourly pay, a frozen increment makes every hour of OT less valuable.
Pension
You build a 'slice' of pension based on this year's salary. A lower salary means a permanently smaller pension block for your future.
Section 7 – Are Increments Automatic?
In 99% of cases, yes. But Police Regulations specify that progression is subject to satisfactory performance.
Student Officers (Reg 13)
Failure to meet student officer benchmarks can result in progression being delayed until competencies are signed off.
Disciplinary Action
Live misconduct warnings or unsatisfactory performance procedures (UPP) are the most common reasons for individual increments being withheld.
Model Your
Pay Progression
Understand how annual increments and potential real-terms pay changes affect your career trajectory.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Can police increments be frozen?
Yes. While increments are normally annual, they can be frozen or suspended through changes to Police Regulations or national pay policy. This has happened historically during periods of severe public sector pay restraint.
• Has this happened before?
Yes. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government implemented several years of public sector pay restraint which included national increment freezes for certain periods and pay caps that restricted progression.
• Is increment the same as pay rise?
No. An increment is moving to the next pay point on your existing rank's scale (e.g., Point 2 to Point 3). A pay rise (pay award) is when the entire scale is increased by a percentage (e.g., 4.75% applied to all points).
• Can my increment be stopped individually?
Yes. Unlike a national freeze, an individual increment can be 'withheld' if an officer's performance is judged to be unsatisfactory through formal capability or performance procedures.
• Does misconduct stop increments?
Potentially. If a misconduct finding leads to a formal warning or performance improvement plan, incremental progression can be paused until the officer demonstrates they are performing satisfactorily.
• Does sickness affect increments?
Generally, no. Incremental dates are usually maintained during periods of sickness. However, extremely long-term absence that triggers capability procedures could theoretically impact progression if performance cannot be assessed.
• Do increments continue during maternity leave?
Yes. Under Police Regulations and equality legislation, officers on maternity leave continue to accrue service and will receive their increments on their normal anniversary date.
• Do increments affect pension?
Yes, significantly. In the 2015 CARE scheme, your pension accrual is based on your pensionable earnings each year. A higher pay point means higher earnings and therefore a larger 'slice' of pension earned for that year.
• Is increment freeze likely again?
While not currently proposed, the possibility depends on the national economic climate and government fiscal policy. They remain a tool available to the government during extreme financial pressure.
• What is incremental progression policy?
Police incremental progression is governed by Annex F of Police Regulations 2003. It defines the pay points for each rank and the conditions (usually one year's service) required to move between them.
• Does acting up count as increment?
No. Acting up is a temporary allowance. You only receive permanent increments on your substantive rank's pay scale. Time spent acting up does not usually count towards increments in the higher rank if you are later promoted.
• Do Inspectors receive increments?
Yes. The Inspector rank has its own scale (currently 4 pay points). Inspectors move up one point annually until they reach the top of the scale, subject to satisfactory performance.
Related Resources
Pay Scales
Current national salary bands by rank.
Real Terms Analysis
Does your progression keep pace with inflation?
Pension Schemes
How salary levels affect your CARE accrual.
Take-Home Pay
Why your net pay differs from gross scale values.
Misconduct Hub
Guidance on how conduct affects your career status.
Regulation 13
Processes for student officer discharge and delays.