Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2023 to Question 191943, whether she has plans to hold discussions with chief constables on police officers (a) facing in-work poverty and (b) using food banks.

Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, like all employers, have a duty to manage and support their officers. It is therefore the responsibility of individual forces to provide financial wellbeing services where they consider it is appropriate to do so.

On 13 July 2023, the Government announced that it had accepted the recommendations of the Police Remuneration Review Body to award a consolidated increase of 7% to all ranks up to and including assistant chief constable and commander with effect from 1 September 2023. The Government also awarded the same increase to chief constables, deputy chief constables and ranks above commander in the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police.

The Government also accepted the PRRB’s recommendation to remove the lowest pay point for constables, bringing starting salaries up to £28,551.

The Government has been clear in its commitment to support the wellbeing of our police, through continuing to fund the National Police Wellbeing Service and introducing a Police Covenant. We will continue to work closely with policing partners and help Chief Constables in their duty to support their workforce effectively.