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| Police pay should start £4,000 lower, at £19,000 | Police pay should start £4,000 lower, at £19,000 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The starting salary for police constables in England and Wales is being cut by £4,000 to £19,000, the home secretary has confirmed. | The starting salary for police constables in England and Wales is being cut by £4,000 to £19,000, the home secretary has confirmed. |
| Theresa May has accepted recommendations on reform made by the Police Arbitration Tribunal. | Theresa May has accepted recommendations on reform made by the Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
| It follows proposals put forward last year in a review for an overhaul of police pay, conditions and allowances. | It follows proposals put forward last year in a review for an overhaul of police pay, conditions and allowances. |
| The Police Federation says it is "disappointed" by the announcement. | The Police Federation says it is "disappointed" by the announcement. |
| The Scottish Ministry of Justice tweeted: "Home Office cuts to police starting salaries will not be imposed in Scotland." | The Scottish Ministry of Justice tweeted: "Home Office cuts to police starting salaries will not be imposed in Scotland." |
| Ex-rail regulator Tom Winsor, the review's author, was appointed last year as the Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales, the first non-policeman named to the post. | Ex-rail regulator Tom Winsor, the review's author, was appointed last year as the Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales, the first non-policeman named to the post. |
| He recommended £1bn could be cut from police pay. | He recommended £1bn could be cut from police pay. |
| Tom Winsor's review of police pay concluded there should be a lower starting salary for some new officers. So while there has been a £4,000 cut for recruits with no experience, such as those coming straight from school at 18, older recruits with relevant experience, such as a period as a special constable, will start to earn £22,000 a year. | |
| But the deal also means that many constables will have the opportunity to move to the top of the pay scale more quickly, currently around £36,000. | |
| Tom Winsor's review aimed to ensure police officers would be paid for their skills, rather than time served. | |
| Proposals to allow chiefs to make constables redundant remain under discussion. Supporters say it would help them get rid of dead wood. Critics say it would threaten the independence of constables. | |
| Mrs May has deferred plans to allow forces to make officers redundant to allow for further negotiation. | Mrs May has deferred plans to allow forces to make officers redundant to allow for further negotiation. |
| The BBC's home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said the starting salary would be £19,000 for recruits with no policing experience but £22,000 for more experienced officers, such as those who have worked as special constables or PCSOs. | The BBC's home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds said the starting salary would be £19,000 for recruits with no policing experience but £22,000 for more experienced officers, such as those who have worked as special constables or PCSOs. |
| He said the proposals also cut the number of pay scales from 10 to 7, meaning officers can reach the higher pay grade of £36,000 more quickly. | He said the proposals also cut the number of pay scales from 10 to 7, meaning officers can reach the higher pay grade of £36,000 more quickly. |
| Under the PAT proposals police in London get extra payments of £6,615 a year and those in the south east of England up to £2,000 because of higher living costs. | Under the PAT proposals police in London get extra payments of £6,615 a year and those in the south east of England up to £2,000 because of higher living costs. |
| Mrs May said: "These reforms build on the changes we implemented [in January last year]. | Mrs May said: "These reforms build on the changes we implemented [in January last year]. |
| 'Modernise pay' | |
| "They continue our programme to modernise... pay and conditions so that they are fair to both officers and the taxpayer. They include measures to re-target pay to reward contribution, increase local flexibility and make important structural changes to enable further reform." | "They continue our programme to modernise... pay and conditions so that they are fair to both officers and the taxpayer. They include measures to re-target pay to reward contribution, increase local flexibility and make important structural changes to enable further reform." |
| The chairman of the Police Federation in England and Wales, Steve Williams, said: "Whilst we remain disappointed with some of the PAT's recommendations we acknowledge that the home secretary has honoured the process of the Police Negotiating Board. | The chairman of the Police Federation in England and Wales, Steve Williams, said: "Whilst we remain disappointed with some of the PAT's recommendations we acknowledge that the home secretary has honoured the process of the Police Negotiating Board. |
| "We accept that today's decision by the home secretary is binding on the Police Federation of England and Wales and we will continue to engage fully on behalf of our members." | "We accept that today's decision by the home secretary is binding on the Police Federation of England and Wales and we will continue to engage fully on behalf of our members." |
| But Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said morale in the police force was at "an all-time low" and added: "This is the wrong time to cut the pay of ordinary police officers." | But Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said morale in the police force was at "an all-time low" and added: "This is the wrong time to cut the pay of ordinary police officers." |
| He said: "If the home secretary wants her revolution in policing to be successful, she must carry the workforce with her." | He said: "If the home secretary wants her revolution in policing to be successful, she must carry the workforce with her." |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) lead on workforce development, chief constable Peter Fahy, said: "In a service where over 80% of budget is spent on people, it is more vital than ever that we have terms and conditions for all staff that both reward them for what they do and represent value for money. | The Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) lead on workforce development, chief constable Peter Fahy, said: "In a service where over 80% of budget is spent on people, it is more vital than ever that we have terms and conditions for all staff that both reward them for what they do and represent value for money. |
| "Acpo was concerned about the starting salaries range proposed and the outcome of these negotiations means that chief constables will now have the flexibility to pay a starting salary of up to £22,000 depending on skills and qualifications. Officers can also reach the top rate of pay three years earlier than under the current arrangements." | "Acpo was concerned about the starting salaries range proposed and the outcome of these negotiations means that chief constables will now have the flexibility to pay a starting salary of up to £22,000 depending on skills and qualifications. Officers can also reach the top rate of pay three years earlier than under the current arrangements." |
| At the weekend the BBC reported how the number of young police officers in England and Wales had fallen by nearly 50% in two years. | At the weekend the BBC reported how the number of young police officers in England and Wales had fallen by nearly 50% in two years. |
| Overall police numbers hit a nine-year low in 2012, due to tighter budget constraints slowing recruitment. | Overall police numbers hit a nine-year low in 2012, due to tighter budget constraints slowing recruitment. |
| Currently sworn police officers are servants of the Crown, not employees, so they cannot be made redundant. | Currently sworn police officers are servants of the Crown, not employees, so they cannot be made redundant. |
| But some forces have been using a regulation known as A19 to make officers with 30 years' experience or more retire early. | But some forces have been using a regulation known as A19 to make officers with 30 years' experience or more retire early. |
| The Winsor Report recommended allowing forces to make any police officers redundant, not just those with 30 years' experience. | The Winsor Report recommended allowing forces to make any police officers redundant, not just those with 30 years' experience. |
| Scotland's Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish government did not commission the Winsor review and he said: "We will not impose changes to the terms and conditions of our hardworking, dedicated officers. Starting salaries for our police constables in Scotland will stay the same. | |
| "The police service in Scotland will not be privatised, we will safeguard officer numbers, we will not implement the Winsor package north of the border and we will protect this vital service from Westminster cuts." | |
| Northern Ireland's Justice Ministry was unavailable for comment. |