THE decision to delay the 2017 police officer pay award is 'yet another blow' to police officer morale, the chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation has said.
Police Constable Craig O’Leary said officers in Oxford and across the force area had been 'hanging on' for the announcement, which has bee put back until September.
The announcement is usually made in July.
PC O'Leary said: "Officers have been hanging on and hanging on, waiting for this announcement.
"It’s yet another body blow for all police officers. Left in limbo yet again.
"I’ve heard some officers saying, ‘well this is a good thing that they’ve delayed it, because potentially they’re looking at giving us an uplift beyond 1 per cent’.
"I don’t necessarily share that optimism, personally."
The Police Federation of England and Wales and the Superintendents’ Association have once again asked for a pay increase of 2.8 per cent for all police officers.
PC O'Leary said he had contacted all the MPs in the area since the General Election in June outlining why police officers deserve more than a 1 per cent pay rise.
When contacting them, he raised issues about the cost of living in the Thames Valley Police area and 'the current plight of policing'.
He said he is yet to receive any replies.
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