PFNI welcomes funding on pay and Recovery Plan

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland says the financial allocation to cover the police pay award and the first year of the PSNI Recovery Plan is ‘a welcome end to uncertainty and doubt.’

PFNI Chair Liam Kelly says the 4.2% pay award, currently running four months late, will come as a relief for officers and their families.

Similarly, the first tranche of funding for the Recovery Plan puts us on the first rung of the ladder towards a much-needed expansion in officer numbers.

“The intention is to reach 7,000 officers by 2028 and I hope sufficient substantial resources will be provided over the next two years to help us reach that target.

“Pay is an annual challenge which frankly needs streamlined and simplified. We have too much bureaucracy involved and all that does is cause unnecessary delay.

“Retaining pay parity with colleagues in England and Wales was an important element here and I welcome retention of this link.

“In overall terms, this is a welcome end to uncertainty and doubt over both items. Policing is set to get £11.6 million but I have to say that given the state of Northern Ireland finances, doubt remains over the much larger allocation that is required next year to significantly boost recruitment.”