THE Wiltshire Police Federation says the government and Priti Patel should be “ashamed” over frozen officer pay.

Mark Andrews, chairman of the Wiltshire Police Federation reacted to the news that officer pay will be frozen by the government on the same day NHS staff were awarded a 3 per cent pay rise.

Mr Andrews said: “I am tired of being whipped by a government who has degraded our pensions, cut our budgets, and continually given us real term pay cuts.

“The government needs to realise we have literally been on the front line of Covid for the last 18 months, keeping the country moving and trying to make sense of the confusing and ever changing decisions coming from London.

“We have been attacked, spat at and abused for too long and we don’t need the same disrespect from a government who allegedly holds law and order in high regard.

"The government and Home Secretary Priti Patel should be ashamed of how they have treated us. There is clearly no independence in the Police Remuneration Review Body."

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Chairman of the Wiltshire Police Federation, Mark Andrews Photo by Martis MediaChairman of the Wiltshire Police Federation, Mark Andrews Photo by Martis Media

According to the Police Remuneration Review Body report it was not recommended that a pay rise for the force was on the cards.

A bonus was also not recommended for the force’s work during the Covid pandemic.

“This is clearly a demonstration that there is no independence when it comes to deciding how our officers are treated,” Mr Andrews added.

“Policing is at a disadvantage when it comes to pay negotiations and as such we need to have faith in the fact our reasoned arguments will at the very least be considered.

“To put it mildly this has not been the case for many years and this latest kick in the teeth shows the lack of respect our government has for us. Time for action from the Police Federation is now.”