Police Officer Pay and Benefits Independent Review / Research

Description

Background to the requirement: A commitment was given as part of the 23/24 police officer pay agreement to progress independent research/review in relation to police officer pay and benefits. The Authority is required to tender this opportunity to appoint a suitably experienced and competent Contractor. Overview: The intention is not to provide explicit recommendations but to provide a shared evidence base to support collaborative working and collective bargaining with regards to future pay negotiations The review/research may inform but will not determine specific changes to pay and benefits in recognition that such changes would require to be agreed through collective bargaining Whilst the pay agreement provides high level direction for the scoping of the research it is essential that both sides work jointly with the independent organisation to determine and agree a more detailed scoping document prior to the research progressing. Submissions are welcome from organisations that feel they are only able to progress one stage of the research. Lot 1: Wage Growth Lot 1 relates to wage growth including consideration of benefits and risks and possible mechanisms to ensure appropriate wage growth within policing going forward from 25/26. Therefore, to support budget considerations for 25/26 there is a requirement to conclude this element by October 2024. Lot 2: Pay & Benefits Review Lot 2 relates to current pay and benefits and will fully consider the unique nature of the officer role in society with key stakeholders feeding in the key strategic principles to inform such review/research as well as the relevant comparators/factors that should be taken into consideration. To provide a shared evidence-base to support collaborative working with regards to future pay and benefits negotiations. The timescale for the Stage 2 will depend on the extent to which there is capacity and capability for the research/review to run concurrently. The aim is to ensure that this review can inform approaches within PNBS from 2026/2027 onwards.