The Government has announced a 3.5% pay award for officers of all ranks from September 2026.
The pay award is below the level recommended made by the independent Police Remuneration Review Body (3.9%). Our Chair, Stuart Cowan said:
"While any pay increase is welcome, a 3.5% award falls short of addressing the significant erosion of police pay seen over the last decade.
"As police officers, we cannot take industrial action; we face unique risks and hold significant responsibilities. We deserve remuneration that reflects the realities of modern policing. This settlement doesn’t reflect rising workloads, increased trauma exposure and public and media expectations.
"I also have to question the role and purpose of the independent pay review bodies if their evidence-based advice and recommendations are so easily ignored by the government. Our colleagues should be able to have confidence that the mechanism for determining police pay is both fair and effective.
"I fear that this pay award will do very little to address the ongoing recruitment and retention issue facing policing. We require more to get policing back to being a career rather than a job."
Allowances
The increase was announced by the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Her statement also made mention of increases to several allowances from 1 September 2026:
London Weighting - This will be increased by 3.5% in line with the pay award.
London and South East Allowances - The maximum rates of London Allowance and the South East Allowance will also be increased by 3.5%.
All Protection Allowance - Rates will be increased by £8.
Acting Up Allowance - The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) recommended that the ten-day qualifying period for Acting Up Allowance should be abolished from 1 September 2026. This recommendation has been accepted but will instead be implemented following consultation on amendments to determinations made under the Police Regulations 2003.
Maternity Support Leave entitlements - The PRRB further recommended that maternity support leave entitlements should be increased to two weeks with full pay from 1 September 2026. The second week of full pay will be available to those officers meeting the current service requirements to receive statutory paternity pay, as set out in determinations made under the Police Regulations 2003. The recommendation will also be applied to adoption support leave entitlements. Both changes will be implemented following consultation on amendments to the determinations.
Read more
The Home Secretary's statement can be read here.
The report of the Police Remuneration Review Body can be read here.