PP Police Pay

Police Pay Scales
Explained (UK)

A complete breakdown of UK police pay scales, rank progression, increments and allowances. Independent, plain-English guide.

Trust Notice: Independent explanatory guide. Not official payroll output. Last updated: 25 February 2026.

Executive Summary

Police pay in England and Wales is structured through national pay scales linked to rank. Officers progress annually through incremental pay points until reaching the top of their scale.

Base salary is only one component. Allowances, overtime and pension contributions materially affect take-home pay. This guide explains how it all works.

Key Drivers

  • Rank Base: Fixed salary bands per rank.
  • Increments: Annual movement up the scale.

Adjustments

  • Regional Allowances (London/SE).
  • Pension & Tax Deductions.

How Police Pay Is Structured

Police pay is determined nationally through:

Regulations

Police Regulations 2003 (as amended).

PRRB

Annual remuneraton review body reports.

Circulars

Home Office pay and conditions circulars.

Each rank has a defined pay scale. You do not negotiate salary individually.

Rank & Pay Bands

  • Constable
  • Sergeant
  • Inspector
  • Chief Inspector
  • Superintendent
  • Chief Superintendent

Each rank contains incremental pay points. Movement through pay points usually occurs annually, subject to performance and regulation compliance.

Pay Point Progression

Most officers move up one pay point per year. Progression may be paused for unsatisfactory performance, misconduct findings, or national increment freezes. At the top of the scale, salary only increases through national pay awards.

London & Regional Allowances

Metropolitan & City:

  • London Weighting
  • London Allowance

South East Forces:

  • South East Allowance

These are paid in addition to base salary based on force location.

Overtime & Enhanced Rates

Overtime is paid at enhanced multipliers. Overtime is calculated from your hourly rate derived from annual salary.

1.33x

(Extension)

1.5x

(Rest

2.0x

(Bank

Pension Contributions

Police officers contribute a percentage of pensionable pay. This reduces take-home pay but increases long-term pension entitlement.

Police Pension Hub

Real Terms Pay

Headline salary is not the same as purchasing power. Inflation materially affects real income over time.

Real Terms Analysis

Common Misunderstandings

No automatic inflation-matching pay rises.
Allowances are not always pensionable.
Overtime may trigger higher tax bands.

Related Tools

Salary Calculator Overtime Calculator Promotion Compare

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary for a police constable?

The starting salary for a police constable in England and Wales varies by entry route but typically starts at approximately £29,907 for new recruits and PCDA students.

How long does it take to reach the top pay point?

For the Constable rank, it typically takes 7 years to reach the top pay point of the scale, assuming annual incremental progression.

Do pay scales differ by force?

Base pay scales are set nationally and are consistent across all 43 territorial forces in England and Wales. However, differences occur through regional allowances like London Weighting and South East Allowance.

How does London Weighting work?

London Weighting is a flat-rate allowance paid to officers in the Metropolitan and City of London police forces to offset the higher cost of living in the capital. It is usually pensionable.

Are allowances pensionable?

Some allowances, like London Weighting, are traditionally pensionable. Others, such as South East Allowance or On-Call Allowance, may not be. This depends on the specific regulation and the pension scheme rules.

Why This Matters

Understanding pay structure allows officers to plan financial decisions, evaluate promotion impact, understand overtime net effect, and assess long-term career value. Police pay is structured, not arbitrary. Clarity reduces frustration.