Posted: Fri 29th Oct 2021

North Wales police commissioner welcomes pay rise for officers – but expresses disappointment over funding method

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Friday, Oct 29th, 2021

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the news that officers are set to receive a pay rise. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in yesterday’s budget that a pay freeze for public sector workers would be lifted. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

North Wales PCC Andy Dunbobbin said he was “pleased” by the news after officers’ efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, he criticised the proposed means of funding the pay rise via the police precept – the amount people pay through their council tax for policing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Labour PCC said it should be paid for by central government instead. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “Earlier this year I shared my disappointment on how police officers were betrayed with a 0% pay offer. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The past 18 months have seen the most difficult working conditions for police officers; with officers in North Wales, and across the UK, going above and beyond in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Following the recent announcement set out within the Budget, I am pleased to learn of the news that the public sector pay freeze will be lifted. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This will mean that police officers and staff within our force will see a pay increase next year, following a decade of real-terms pay cuts. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Whilst I welcome this news, I am disappointed that the government expect this pay increase to be funded by our local communities through the precept. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Any pay increase should be properly funded by central government. I look forward to receiving further clarification in the provisional policing settlement in December. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“As police and crime commissioner for North Wales, I will continue to work to ensure the voice of our police officers and staff is heard.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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