Police pay update September 2023:
Who are the PRRB?
The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) was set up in 2014 to replace the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). It covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They are responsible for making recommendations on pay and conditions for police officers at or below the rank of Chief Superintendent in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – around 135,000 police officers. The basis of this process is the provision of robust evidence to support decision-making.
It should be clear that this process is not a negotiation process and PRRB make recommendations on pay and conditions.
Who are the key stakeholders in NI?
In NI the key stakeholders include:
- Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI)
- Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
- Department of Justice / Department of Finance and Personnel
- Superintendents’ Association (SANI)
- NI Policing Board
Current position.
The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) have made recommendations for the Police officer pay award 2023/2024 for colleagues in England and Wales. They have recommended a consolidated increase of 7% to all Police officer pay points for all ranks up to and including assistant chief constable and commander from 1st September 2023.
The principle of pay parity with England and Wales is vitally important and we have a long-established core pay link with our colleagues in England and Wales. Therefore the Police Federation for Northern Ireland fully expect an identical main pay award recommendation for PSNI officers.
However public sector pay policy in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter so we must await our Government’s decision. The PRRB recommendations for police officers in PSNI are still being considered for ratification by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Permanent Secretary (in lieu of the Justice Minister as we have no Government).
PFNI have made a number of requests for sight of the PRRB recommendations however to date the DOJ have failed to provide a copy of the PRRB report. Once the PRRB report is released and ratification process is completed we will update members accordingly. At present all Stormont departments are considering and holding all public sector pay awards as the block grant budget is projected to be in deficit.
Incremental pay
Given the delays with incremental pay in 2021 and 2022 PFNI sought assurances from DOJ that similar delays would not reoccur in 2023. In the absence of any guarantees or agreement PFNI initiated legal action to address this on-going issue and establish our entitlement to annual increments.
Unfortunately delays will occur in September 2023 and PFNI are progressing our Judicial Review to gain much needed clarity on this issue and minimise any delays this year and prevent delays in the future.
Department of Justice officials have undertaken to keep PFNI updated on the progress of these matters however it is unlikely an update will be available until October 2023.
I will continue to provide updated as and when I receive them.
D Walsh, PFNI Secretary
