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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Barry Ellams

Police Federation loses confidence in Priti Patel over 'pay insult'

The Police Federation has unanimously backed a vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel over another row over pay.

The organisation which represents police officers across England and Wales says that the Home Office offers only 'warm words' and no 'improved financial packages' for brave and heroic frontline officers facing increasingly challenging roles.

The PFEW also made a decision to withdraw its support and engagement from the Police Remuneration Review Body, labellin the current police officer pay mechanism ‘not fit for purpose’.

During the National Council meeting on Wednesday, members overwhelmingly supported a vote of no confidence in the Home Secretary and the PRRB process for police officer pay.

PFEW National Chair John Apter said: “Our members are so angry with this Government."

"They have been on the frontline of this pandemic for 18 months and will now see other public services given pay increases while they receive nothing.

"At the beginning of this pandemic they endured PPE shortages and were not even prioritised for the vaccination. They continue to be politicised and this pay announcement is the final straw.

"As the organisation that represents more than 130,000 police officers I can say quite categorically – we have no confidence in the current Home Secretary. I cannot look my colleagues in the eye and do nothing.”

A PFEW Spokesman added: "The PRRB is not truly independent, the body which is the only mechanism we have to consider any pay award for police officers, has its hands constantly tied by the Government who continually interfere.

"The PRRB itself recognises its lack of independence.

"We can no longer accept this and have no confidence in this system which is why we are walking away."

A Home Office Spokesperson said: “The home secretary has demonstrated her commitment time and time again to supporting the brave police officers who keep us safe, giving them the resources and powers they need to fight crime and protect the public.”

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