The police pay award for 2026/27 (effective from 1 September 2026) has not yet been confirmed. The process is being managed by the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), an independent body that gathers evidence from the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), the Police Federation and other stakeholders before submitting a formal recommendation to the government.
The positions from the main parties are far apart — ranging from the Home Office's affordability ceiling of 2.5% to the Police Federation's call for 7% per year. This page sets out the current state of play, the timeline, and what any confirmed award means for your take-home pay.
💡 Quick note on take-home pay
Any confirmed pay rise is a gross figure. Your actual take-home pay will rise by less, because higher gross pay typically means more Income Tax, more National Insurance, and potentially higher police pension contributions under the CARE 2015 scheme. Use the Police Take-Home Pay Calculator to model your specific situation accurately.
In this guide
- 1. The Three Proposals: Home Office, NPCC and Police Federation
- 2. What Was the 2025/26 Police Pay Award?
- 3. The PRRB Process: Timeline for 2026/27
- 4. Affordability: Why the Numbers Differ So Much
- 5. Real-Terms Pay Erosion Since 2010
- 6. The Police Federation's Position
- 7. What Different Awards Mean in Cash Terms
- 8. Why Your Take-Home May Rise by Less Than the Headline %
- 9. Current Police Pay Scales 2025/26 with Estimated 2026/27 Figures
- 10. Scotland, Northern Ireland and London Weighting
- 11. Key Takeaways
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions
- 13. Summary
1. The Three Proposals: Home Office, NPCC and Police Federation
Three very different positions have been submitted as evidence to the PRRB for 2026/27.
| Organisation | Proposal for 2026/27 | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Home Office | Up to 2.5% (affordability ceiling) | Four consecutive above-affordability awards have strained force budgets; OBR CPI forecast ~2.1%; further awards above this level require difficult reprioritisation |
| NPCC | 3.5% (fully funded) or 2.5% if not funded | Award should keep pace with cost of living and recognise the unique demands of policing; must be fully government-funded to avoid cuts elsewhere in forces |
| Police Federation (PFEW) | Minimum 7% per year for three years | Officers are 21% worse off in real terms than in 2010; retention crisis is worsening; a 'P Factor' should also recognise unique risks and trauma of policing |
⚠️ No confirmed figure yet
None of these proposals is a confirmed award. The PRRB will weigh all evidence and submit its formal recommendation to the government. The final announced figure is expected in mid-to-late July 2026, with effect from 1 September 2026. Based on historic PRRB patterns and the competing submissions, independent analysts currently consider a figure in the range of 2.5%–3.5% the most probable outcome, with approximately 3% regarded as the central expectation.
2. What Was the 2025/26 Police Pay Award?
In July 2025, the government confirmed a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for all police officers in England and Wales, covering all ranks up to and including chief superintendent. This was effective from 1 September 2025 and was backed by £120 million in additional Home Office funding.
Following the 4.2% award, the key 2025/26 salary points are:
- Police Constable (PP1, entry): £31,163
- Police Constable (PP7, experienced): £50,257
- Chief Superintendent (average): £98,500
The Home Office noted in its 2026/27 evidence submission that the 2025/26 award "came in well above the figures we set out as affordable" and required a "rigorous in-year savings exercise" to fund it — a key reason the government's position for 2026/27 has tightened to 2.5%.
For context, recent year-on-year police pay awards have been: 4.2% (2025/26), 4.75% (2024/25), 7% (2023/24) and 5% (2022/23). This sustained run of above-affordability awards is now creating financial pressure on force budgets.
3. The PRRB Process: Timeline for 2026/27
The PRRB is an independent advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office. It does not negotiate pay directly; it gathers evidence and submits recommendations to the Secretary of State, who then decides whether to accept, modify or reject them.
| Stage | Date / Expected timing |
|---|---|
| Minister issues remit letter to PRRB | February 2026 (completed) |
| Home Office submits evidence to PRRB | March 2026 (completed) |
| NPCC, Police Federation and other stakeholders submit evidence | March 2026 (completed) |
| PRRB considers all evidence; oral hearings | Spring 2026 |
| PRRB submits formal recommendation to Home Secretary | Expected June–July 2026 |
| Government announcement of confirmed award | Expected mid-to-late July 2026 |
| New pay rates effective date | 1 September 2026 (with backpay if delayed) |
4. Affordability: Why the Numbers Differ So Much
The wide gap between the proposals reflects a genuine structural tension in police pay funding.
The Home Office's 2026/27 evidence states that total funding for territorial police forces will be up to £19.6 billion in 2026/27 — an increase of £848 million (4.5% in cash terms) over 2025/26. However, after accounting for inflation, that represents only a 2.2% real-terms increase. Forces must fund pay awards, pension costs, officer progression through pay points, and all other operational spending from within this envelope.
The Home Office's assessment is that a pay award of up to 2.5% is affordable in 2026/27 for most forces, though it acknowledges some forces are already struggling to balance their budgets even at this level. It notes that four consecutive above-affordability awards have compounded budget pressures, particularly as large cohorts of newly recruited officers are now progressing up the pay scales.
The NPCC's position — 3.5% if fully funded by government — reflects police leadership's view that forces cannot absorb a meaningful pay award from existing budgets without cuts elsewhere. If the government does not provide full funding, the NPCC indicated 2.5% would be the maximum manageable.
📌 Key figure: cost per 1% increase
The Home Office has not published a specific per-percentage cost for police pay equivalent to the DfE's teacher pay figure, but the scale of police pay expenditure means each 1% represents a significant demand on force budgets. The government's stance is that any award above 2.5% requires either additional Treasury funding or difficult cuts to other policing services.
5. Real-Terms Pay Erosion Since 2010
A central argument in the police pay debate is the long-term erosion of officer pay relative to inflation and average earnings. The Police Federation's evidence to the PRRB states that police officers are 21% worse off in real terms than they were in 2010.
UNISON, which represents police staff (rather than officers), has separately highlighted that police staff pay has risen by just 41.1% over the 14 years since 2011 — far below what RPI inflation would have required (approximately 79.8% over the same period). This implies a 27.4% real-terms cut in average police staff pay over that period.
The PRRB's own evidence notes that over half of all police officers in England and Wales are already at the top of their pay band. For these officers — other than through promotion — the annual PRRB award represents their only salary increase. The spending power of their pay has fallen materially since 2010.
6. The Police Federation's Position
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has called for a minimum 7% increase per year for the next three years. This is presented not as an opening negotiating position but as a minimum needed to begin reversing the real-terms pay decline since 2010.
Alongside the pay claim, the Federation has called for:
- A new 'P Factor' payment to recognise the unique risks, restrictions and psychological trauma of policing
- Doubling the unsocial hours allowance from 10% to 20% for work between 8pm and 8am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Removal of the lowest constable pay point to raise starting salaries
- Multi-year pay settlements to give officers and forces greater certainty
The West Midlands Police Federation chair, Jess Davies, described a 3.5% award as "another real-terms pay cut" that would "do nothing to stem the number of officers leaving policing." She added that officers have put their lives on the line each day and deserve pay that reflects the unique demands placed upon them.
🔎 Note on Police Federation PRRB participation
The PFEW formally withdrew from the PRRB pay review process in 2021, arguing the mechanism was not fit for purpose. It has provided information in recent rounds — including 2026/27 — without formally returning to the process.
7. What Different Awards Mean in Cash Terms
To illustrate the impact, here is how the most-discussed percentage awards would affect gross annual pay at key pay points from the 2025/26 baseline:
| Pay Point / Rank | 2025/26 Gross | +2.5% (Home Office ceiling) | +3.5% (NPCC proposal) | +4.2% (prior year, for reference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC PP1 (entry) | £31,163 | £31,942 | £32,254 | £32,471 |
| PC PP7 (experienced) | £50,257 | £51,513 | £52,016 | £52,367 |
| Sergeant (entry) | ~£46,000 | ~£47,150 | ~£47,610 | ~£47,932 |
| Inspector (entry) | ~£59,000 | ~£60,475 | ~£61,065 | ~£61,478 |
| Chief Superintendent (avg) | £98,500 | £100,963 | £101,948 | £102,657 |
Sergeant and Inspector figures are approximate; exact pay points vary. All figures are gross (before tax and pension). To calculate your monthly take-home based on any confirmed figure, use the Police Take-Home Pay Calculator.
In monthly terms, the difference between a 2.5% and 3.5% award for a typical experienced constable (PP7, £50,257) is approximately £42 per month gross — which nets down further after tax, NI and pension.
More general salary conversion tools: Take-Home Pay Calculator · Salary to Hourly · Hourly to Salary · Monthly to Hourly.
8. Why Your Take-Home May Rise by Less Than the Headline %
Even if your gross pay rises by the confirmed percentage, your net monthly pay will typically increase by a smaller amount. The main reasons are:
- Income Tax — especially if your pay crosses the higher-rate threshold (£50,270 in 2026/27); an experienced constable at PP7 is already very close to this point
- National Insurance contributions
- Police CARE 2015 pension contributions — tiered rates mean a pay rise may push you into a higher contribution band (rates range from 13.44% to 13.78% of pensionable pay depending on salary band)
- Student loan repayments — a percentage of earnings above the relevant plan threshold
⚠️ Higher-rate tax trap for experienced constables
If you are at or near PP7 (£50,257), even a modest pay rise could push earnings above the £50,270 higher-rate Income Tax threshold, meaning the portion above that threshold is taxed at 40% rather than 20%. This makes the net benefit of any rise smaller than the gross headline suggests.
Use the Police Take-Home Pay Calculator to see your personal take-home figure at any gross salary, accounting for pension, tax and NI.
For general salary conversion: Take-Home Pay Calculator · Salary to Hourly · Hourly to Salary · Monthly to Hourly.
9. Current Police Pay Scales 2025/26 with Estimated 2026/27 Figures
The table below shows confirmed 2025/26 gross salaries following the 4.2% award, alongside estimated 2026/27 figures at both 2.5% (Home Office ceiling) and 3.5% (NPCC proposal). These are estimates only — the PRRB's formal recommendation will determine the actual award.
| Rank / Pay Point | 2025/26 Gross (£) | Est. at +2.5% (£) | Est. at +3.5% (£) | Est. Monthly Take-Home* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC Pay Point 1 (entry) | £31,163 | £31,942 | £32,254 | £2,050 – £2,150 |
| PC Pay Point 3 | ~£37,000 | ~£37,925 | ~£38,295 | £2,400 – £2,500 |
| PC Pay Point 5 | ~£43,500 | ~£44,588 | ~£45,023 | £2,700 – £2,850 |
| PC Pay Point 7 (top, experienced) | £50,257 | £51,513 | £52,016 | £2,900 – £3,050 |
| Sergeant (entry) | ~£46,000 | ~£47,150 | ~£47,610 | £2,800 – £2,950 |
| Inspector (entry) | ~£59,000 | ~£60,475 | ~£61,065 | £3,300 – £3,500 |
| Chief Inspector (top) | ~£70,000 | ~£71,750 | ~£72,450 | £3,750 – £3,950 |
| Superintendent (entry) | ~£77,000 | ~£78,925 | ~£79,695 | £4,100 – £4,350 |
| Chief Superintendent (avg) | £98,500 | £100,963 | £101,948 | £4,950 – £5,200 |
| Metropolitan Police (PC PP7 + London Weighting ~£10k) | ~£60,257 | ~£61,763 | ~£62,366 | £3,350 – £3,550 |
*Take-home estimates assume CARE 2015 pension contributions, standard Income Tax and NI for 2026/27. Sergeant and Inspector figures are approximate mid-band estimates. Individual results vary — use the Police Take-Home Pay Calculator for your exact figures.
Additional allowances that can affect total pay include:
- London Weighting: approximately £10,000 additional for Metropolitan Police and City of London officers
- South East Allowance: £3,000 (Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey, Thames Valley); £2,000 (Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Sussex)
- Dog Handler Allowance: £2,900 for the first dog, £1,500 for each additional dog
- On-call, away from home and hardship allowances — all increased alongside the 2025/26 award
For personalised take-home figures:
- Police Take-Home Pay Calculator
- General Take-Home Pay Calculator
- Salary to Hourly Calculator
- Hourly to Salary Calculator
- Monthly to Hourly Calculator
10. Scotland, Northern Ireland and London Weighting
The PRRB covers England and Wales only. Pay arrangements elsewhere are handled separately:
| Nation / Force | Pay framework | 2026/27 position |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | PRRB / Home Secretary | Awaiting PRRB recommendation; Home Office affordability ceiling ~2.5%; NPCC calls for 3.5%; announcement expected July 2026 |
| Scotland (Police Scotland) | SNCT equivalent / Scottish Government | Two-year deal agreed in 2025: 2026/27 pay set at CPI +1% (equivalent to approximately 4% at time of agreement) |
| Northern Ireland (PSNI) | Follows England and Wales | Historically mirrors England and Wales award; implementation can be delayed pending Stormont budget decisions |
| Metropolitan Police | England and Wales (+ London Weighting) | Same PRRB award as all England and Wales forces; London Weighting typically increases in line with pay award |
💡 Scotland: a useful benchmark
Police Scotland's two-year deal — which set 2026/27 pay at CPI +1% — is being watched closely as a potential precedent for a multi-year settlement in England and Wales. Both the Police Federation and Police Superintendents' Association have called for multi-year settlements to give officers greater certainty.
11. Key Takeaways
- No confirmed police pay award for 2026/27 has been announced yet
- Home Office affordability ceiling: up to 2.5%
- NPCC proposal: 3.5% (fully funded) or 2.5% if not funded
- Police Federation demand: minimum 7% per year for three years
- Independent analysts consider 2.5%–3.5% the probable range, with ~3% the central estimate
- PRRB recommendation expected June–July 2026; government announcement expected mid-to-late July 2026
- New rates effective from 1 September 2026 (backdated if announcement is delayed)
- 2025/26 confirmed award was 4.2%, effective from 1 September 2025
- Police Federation says officers are 21% worse off in real terms than in 2010
- Over half of all officers in England and Wales are already at the top of their pay band
- Any award above 2.5% requires additional Treasury funding or cuts elsewhere in policing
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Is the police pay rise for 2026/27 confirmed?
No. The PRRB process is still underway. All figures currently in circulation — 2.5%, 3.5%, 4.2%, 7% — are proposals or projections, not a confirmed award. The final figure will be announced by the government after receiving the PRRB's recommendation, expected July 2026.
When will I see the pay rise in my pay packet?
The police pay year starts on 1 September. If the government's announcement comes in July 2026 (as expected), the new pay rates will appear in September 2026 pay packets. If the announcement is delayed, it is typically backdated to 1 September and paid as a lump sum.
What was the 2025/26 police pay award?
The government accepted the PRRB's recommendation of a 4.2% consolidated pay increase for all ranks up to and including chief superintendent, effective from 1 September 2025. This was backed by £120 million in additional Home Office funding.
Are police staff included in the PRRB award?
No. The PRRB covers police officers (Constable to Chief Superintendent) only. Police staff (civilian employees such as PCSOs, custody staff, admin and call handlers) are covered by the Police Staff Council's separate pay negotiations, where UNISON, Unite and GMB have submitted a joint pay claim for 2026.
Does the award apply to all UK police forces?
The PRRB award covers England and Wales. Scotland operates a separate arrangement — Police Scotland agreed a two-year deal in 2025 setting 2026/27 pay at CPI +1% (approximately 4%). Northern Ireland (PSNI) historically follows England and Wales, though implementation can be delayed.
Will my take-home pay rise by the full headline percentage?
No — higher gross pay means higher Income Tax, National Insurance and, potentially, higher CARE 2015 pension contributions. If you are at or near the higher-rate tax threshold (£50,270), a portion of any rise will be taxed at 40%. Use the Police Take-Home Pay Calculator to model your exact take-home.
What is the Police Remuneration Review Body?
The PRRB is an independent advisory body sponsored by the Home Office. It receives evidence from the government, police leadership and staff associations, then submits recommendations on pay and allowances to the Home Secretary, who makes the final decision.
13. Summary
The 2026/27 police pay award for England and Wales is still to be determined. The Home Office has set an affordability ceiling of 2.5%, the NPCC is calling for a fully funded 3.5%, and the Police Federation is demanding 7% per year. Based on historic PRRB patterns and the current fiscal constraints, an award in the 2.5%–3.5% range appears most likely, with around 3% currently the central estimate among independent analysts.
The formal government announcement is expected in mid-to-late July 2026, with new pay rates effective from 1 September 2026. This page will be updated when a confirmed figure is available.
In the meantime, model your take-home pay with: Police Take-Home Pay Calculator · Take-Home Pay Calculator · Salary to Hourly · Hourly to Salary · Monthly to Hourly.