Humberside Police officers having to take on second jobs to make ends meet

Police officers in Humberside are having to take on second jobs to make ends meet - and now they are facing a “disgusting” and “insulting” pay freeze, it has been claimed.

Lee Sims, chair of the Humberside Police Federation, has reacted with fury to the 2021 police officer pay freeze - announced by the Government yesterday, on the same day NHS colleagues were awarded a 3 per cent increase.

Mr Sims said: “It is just an insult. The Government are yet again showing a blatant disregard for hardworking police officers.

“For the past 18 months, we have had cops constantly having their rest days cancelled, constantly being made to work extra hours, and constantly being assaulted. They have been through all of that, and now they are not being recognised for their hard work with a pay rise.

“It is an absolute kick in the teeth. Our members haven’t been able to work from home. They haven’t been furloughed. It has been business as usual for us and for our members not to be recognised for this a disgrace.”

Mr Sims said officers have seen an 18 per cent drop in pay in "real terms" over the last 10 years, leaving some officers with no alternative but to use food banks.

He said: "I have more officers than ever before using the Welfare and Benevolent Fund. We are simply not being adequately rewarded for the vital job we do.

“The fact that officers are having to take on second jobs just to make ends meet is disgusting. Their days off should enable them to rest. They do a difficult job and they need their recuperation time. I would call on the Government to please reconsider this move and recognise the hard work that officers have done keeping the nation safe.”

Mr Sims said he would be speaking to the Police Federation of England and Wales to see what steps they can take working together.

A Police Federation England and Wales spokesman said: “The current pay system for policing is not fit for purpose. We are forced to enter into an inherently unfair process from the start, with the odds weighted firmly in favour of the Government where, it seems, a decision has already been made when they set the parameters for the pay review body.

“It is now essential that we review this process and look to find an alternative. A solution that has the best interests of police officer pay at heart. We will be seeking the views of our members and calling an urgent meeting with our 43 Federation branches from across England and Wales to discuss our next steps.”