British police officers must accept cuts to their pay packets to avoid losing thousands of frontline jobs, Home Secretary Theresa May said today.
Ms May said she did not want to make savings for the sake of it, but “extraordinary circumstances” mean the government must reform terms and conditions to keep officers on the streets.
Ms May called for all forces to follow the example of the Metropolitan Police in getting officers to patrol alone rather than in pairs.
“By getting more officers to patrol alone - rather than in pairs - and by better matching resources to demand in neighbourhood policing, they are increasing officer availability to the public by 25 per cent,” she said.
“I know other forces including Gloucestershire are taking the same steps. All forces should be following their example.”
On pay and conditions, Mrs May said that in all likelihood there would be a two-year pay freeze in policing, saving £350 million (€412 million). “No home secretary wants to cut police officers’ pay packages,” she said. “But with a record budget deficit, these are extraordinary circumstances.”
Her speech comes ahead of an independent review of police pay and conditions by former rail regulator Tom Winsor, which will be published on Tuesday.
In a document by the Association of Chief Police Officers, which outlined potential savings in August, members suggested scrapping a host of additional payments and bonuses, as well as reducing the amount of overtime paid for working on public holidays.
Other arrangements, including compensation for cancelled rest days, may also be changed or cut completely.
Police have been criticised for a £450 million a year overtime bill and other “out-of-date” remuneration rules. Figures released by the Met in August revealed five constables boosted their wages by £50,000 with overtime.
PA