Backdated pay boost for PSNI officers

The increase keeps officers in Northern Ireland on pay parity with their counterparts in England and Wales.

The increase was confirmed by the Justice Minister Naomi Long yesterday who said it “recognises the work of police officers in Northern Ireland”.

She added: “Our police officers are committed to serving everyone in Northern Ireland and keeping people safe. It is a crucial role at the heart of our community and I would urge anyone who is considering joining the PSNI to visit www.join.psni.co.uk.”

Commenting on the announcement, a PFNI spokesman said: “This pay increase should have come into force from September 1 last year and it will come as some relief that it will finally appear in payslips at the end of the month.

“This is the third year in a row that agreed and approved pay increases have been delayed because of the absence of a [Stormont] minister. We welcome confirmation that the increase will be backdated.”

He added: “We will shortly engage with the Police Remuneration Review Body on a new round of pay discussions with a view to securing agreement by June”.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has also welcomed the officers’ pay rise.

“Society as a whole owes them a debt of gratitude and the least we can do is to recognise the value of their service by ensuring that we keep faith with the police in terms of honouring pay awards,” he said.

John Blair, an Alliance representative on the NI Policing Board, said: “It is important PSNI officers are treated in the same way as their colleagues in the rest of the UK. That includes receiving similar pay awards and so I welcome today’s news.”