Dyfed Powys Police Federation has given its full backing to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) after it reacted to the pay row which sparked a Federation vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel.

The NPCC’s chair, Martin Hewitt, has written to Ms Patel on behalf of its members in the wake of the imposition of a pay freeze on officers earning more than £24,000-a-year.

The letter states: “Taken together with the continuing effects of a decade of austerity around officers’ pay, there is no question that properly rewarding our incredible people is now a significant issue of concern for chief constables. 

“We simply believe they deserve better and that it is the responsibility of Government to address this across the forthcoming spending period.” 

It continues: “For many it feels unfair and that their contribution is undervalued. And, unlike other parts of the public service, officers do not have the option of industrial action to make their case more strongly.

“As the Government makes spending decisions over coming months, we urge you to fund a settlement which properly reflects the important and complex work police officers do, and starts to address the pay shortfall.”

Dyfed Powys Police Federation secretary Roger Webb said: “This letter from the NPCC expresses the deep feelings of betrayal across forces.

“Chief officers recognise the extra pressures their officers have been under since the start of the pandemic and they understand how undervalued those brave men and women now feel.

“The Home Secretary told us she had our backs when she spoke at the Police Federation conference and just a few weeks later told us there was no pay rise this year.

“We think that is unacceptable and we cannot make our position any clearer. We hope the Home Secretary takes this letter seriously and starts to repair the damage she has caused by reconsidering this unfair pay freeze.”