The police pay rise for 2026 has been confirmed at 3.5% for all ranks and pay points in England and Wales. The consolidated increase will take effect from 1 September 2026.
The Government announced its decision on 15 July 2026 after considering recommendations from the Police Remuneration Review Body.
However, the final award is lower than the independent body’s recommended 3.9% increase and considerably below the Police Federation’s request for 7% annually over three years.
London Weighting and the maximum London and South East allowances will also increase by 3.5%. Other announcements cover acting-up payments, protection allowances and paid maternity, paternity and adoption support leave.
Last Updated: 29.08.2026
Police Pay Rise 2026 POLICE At A Glance
| Detail | Confirmed Position |
| Police Pay Rise | 3.5% |
| Announcement Date | 15 July 2026 |
| Effective Date | 1 September 2026 |
| Covered Ranks | All Ranks And Pay Points |
| Geographic Coverage | England And Wales |
| PRRB Recommendation | 3.9% |
| Police Federation Request | 7% Annually For Three Years |
| Status | Confirmed |
What Is The Confirmed Police Pay Rise For 2026?
Police officers across England and Wales will receive a consolidated 3.5% increase to basic pay from 1 September 2026.
The increase applies across all ranks and pay points. This includes constables, sergeants, inspectors, chief inspectors, superintendents and chief officers.
The Government’s police pay statement confirmed that the award was the highest increase ministers considered manageable within existing police force and Home Office budgets.
This replaces the earlier uncertainty around whether officers would receive 2.5%, 3.5%, 3.9% or the 7% requested by the Police Federation. The 3.5% figure is now the final Government award rather than a proposal.
When Will The 3.5% Police Pay Rise Take Effect?
The new police pay rates will take effect on 1 September 2026.
Officers should normally see the increase in the first salary payment covering work completed after that date. The precise payment date can depend on the payroll arrangements used by each police force.
The increase is consolidated into basic salary. This means it becomes part of an officer’s permanent pensionable pay rather than being issued as a one-off bonus.
New Police Pay Scales From September 2026
The following table shows selected examples of how a 3.5% increase changes national basic salaries. Police constable pay depends on appointment date, entry route and progression point.
These are calculated estimates based on the September 2025 pay scales. Small rounding differences may appear when the final payroll tables are applied.
| Rank And Pay Point | September 2025 Salary | Estimated September 2026 Salary | Annual Increase |
| Constable Pay Point 1 | £31,164 | £32,255 | £1,091 |
| Constable Top Pay Point | £50,256 | £52,015 | £1,759 |
| Sergeant Entry Point | £53,568 | £55,443 | £1,875 |
| Sergeant Top Pay Point | £56,208 | £58,175 | £1,967 |
| Inspector Entry Point Outside London | £63,768 | £66,000 | £2,232 |
| Inspector Top Pay Point Outside London | £68,982 | £71,396 | £2,414 |
| Chief Inspector Entry Point Outside London | £70,344 | £72,806 | £2,462 |
| Chief Inspector Top Pay Point Outside London | £73,149 | £75,709 | £2,560 |
London officers can receive higher overall remuneration because London Weighting and relevant regional allowances are added to basic salary.
Officers progressing through their pay scale may also receive a scheduled pay-point increase. That progression is separate from the national 3.5% award and depends on eligibility under the relevant police pay arrangements.
How Much Extra Will Police Officers Receive?
A 3.5% rise means an officer receives an additional £3.50 in gross salary for every £100 of existing basic pay.
For example:
- A Salary Of £31,164 increases by approximately £1,091 a year or £90.90 a month before deductions
- A Salary Of £50,256 increases by approximately £1,759 a year or £146.58 a month before deductions
- A Salary Of £56,208 increases by approximately £1,967 a year or £163.94 a month before deductions
- A Salary Of £68,982 increases by approximately £2,414 a year or £201.20 a month before deductions
The amount reaching an officer’s bank account will be lower than the gross increase because Income Tax, National Insurance and police pension contributions may apply.
Actual take-home pay will also depend on the officer’s tax code, pension scheme, student loan deductions, overtime, regional allowances and other payroll adjustments.
Police Pay Changes: 2025 Comparison, New Announcements And Future Updates
Police Pay Rise 2025 Vs 2026
Police officers received a 4.2% consolidated pay rise from 1 September 2025. The confirmed 3.5% rise for September 2026 is therefore 0.7 percentage points lower than the previous award.
| Pay Period | Pay Rise | Effective Date | Status |
| 2025/26 | 4.2% | 1 September 2025 | Implemented |
| 2026/27 | 3.5% | 1 September 2026 | Confirmed |
| Difference | 0.7 Percentage Points Lower | — | — |
Although the percentage is lower, officers will still receive a larger cash salary because the 3.5% increase is applied to the higher salary produced by the previous year’s award.
However, whether officers are better off in real terms depends on inflation, pension deductions, taxation and changes in household costs.
New Police Pay And Allowance Announcements For 2026
The 2026 announcement covers more than basic salaries. The Government confirmed several changes to allowances and employment conditions.
The main announcements include:
- London Weighting will increase by 3.5%
- Maximum London Allowance rates will increase by 3.5%
- Maximum South East Allowance rates will increase by 3.5%
- Protection Allowance rates will increase by £8
- Maternity support leave will increase to two weeks on full pay for eligible officers
- Adoption support leave will receive a corresponding improvement
- The ten-day qualifying period for Acting Up Allowance will be abolished following consultation
The Government has not accepted every proposal put forward during the pay review. Measures such as a general Police Factor payment, a 20% unsocial-hours allowance and wider restructuring of constable pay points have not been confirmed as part of the 3.5% award.
Future Police Pay Updates For 2027
No police pay percentage has been confirmed for the 2027/28 pay round.
Police pay will continue to be reviewed through the annual remuneration process. Future recommendations are likely to consider inflation, recruitment, officer retention, police force funding and developments in wider public-sector pay.
Issues that may produce further announcements include:
- Implementation Of Acting Up Allowance changes
- Amendments To Police Regulations covering leave and employment rights
- Further Reviews Of London and regional allowances
- Possible Reform Of police pay progression
- Development Of A wider police workforce and remuneration strategy
The Police Federation’s request for annual 7% increases over three years was not accepted for 2026. It should not be treated as an agreed pay plan for 2027 or 2028.
Which Officers And Regions Are Covered?
The confirmed 3.5% award applies to police officers in England and Wales.
It should not be described as a single UK-wide police pay rise because Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate policing and pay arrangements.
The main distinctions are:
- England And Wales are covered by the confirmed 3.5% award
- Police Scotland follows decisions made through separate Scottish arrangements
- The Police Service Of Northern Ireland has a separate pay and approval process
- Police Staff are not automatically covered because many staff employees negotiate through different arrangements
This distinction is important because police officers and civilian police staff can work within the same force but receive increases through separate pay systems.
Government Award Versus PRRB Recommendation
The final 3.5% award is lower than the recommendation made by the independent Police Remuneration Review Body.
The official 2026 Police Remuneration Review Body report recommended a consolidated increase of 3.9% for officers up to and including chief superintendent.
| Organisation | Proposed Or Recommended Increase | Final Outcome |
| Police Federation | 7% Annually For Three Years | Not Accepted |
| Police Remuneration Review Body | 3.9% | Not Accepted In Full |
| Senior Salaries Review Body | 3.7% For Chief Officers | Not Accepted In Full |
| UK Government | 3.5% For All Ranks | Confirmed |
The Government therefore did not accept the independent recommendations in full. It selected a lower uniform award of 3.5% across all ranks and pay points.
Why Did The Government Choose 3.5% Instead Of 3.9%?
The Government said 3.5% was the highest award that could be managed while protecting police force finances and maintaining existing crime and policing priorities.
Police forces have faced pressure from rising salary, pension, equipment and operational costs. A national pay rise affects recurring expenditure because the higher salaries must continue to be funded in future years.
Ministers considered several factors:
- Affordability Within police force budgets
- Additional Home Office funding requirements
- Inflation And wider economic conditions
- Recruitment And retention pressures
- Pay Awards across other public services
- Delivery Of frontline policing commitments
The decision nevertheless created questions about the role of the independent review process because the PRRB recommended a higher increase after examining evidence from policing organisations, staff representatives and the Government.
How Is The 2026 Police Pay Rise Being Funded?
The Home Office will provide additional funding to help police forces meet the cost of the award.
The confirmed funding includes:
- £84 Million in 2026/27
- £144 Million in 2027/28
- £145 Million in 2028/29
The money will be distributed using Police Funding Formula shares. This is intended to reduce the risk of individual forces having to fund the full increase by cutting recruitment, reducing officer numbers or limiting operational spending.
The additional funding does not mean every force faces the same financial position. Local pressures, workforce sizes and existing budget commitments can still affect how manageable the settlement is.
Why Has The Police Federation Criticised The Award?
The Police Federation argues that the 3.5% settlement does not adequately recognise the responsibilities, restrictions and risks associated with policing.
Its criticism became stronger after the Government awarded less than the PRRB’s recommended 3.9%. The Police Federation’s response to the confirmed award said the decision could damage morale, recruitment and retention.
The Federation has raised several concerns:
- Police Pay has declined substantially in real terms since 2010
- Officers cannot take industrial action over pay
- Experienced Officers are leaving before retirement
- Workloads And operational risks have increased
- Frozen Tax thresholds can reduce the value of salary increases
- Pension Contributions mean take-home growth is lower than gross pay growth
The Federation’s real-terms pay figures should be clearly attributed as campaign evidence rather than presented as an independently agreed calculation. Different results can be produced depending on the inflation measure and comparison dates used.
Will The Police Pay Rise Be Backdated?
The award takes effect from 1 September 2026, so it is not backdated to the beginning of the financial year.
If a police force cannot apply the increase in the first relevant payroll, officers would normally expect any missing amount to be calculated from the effective date. Payment schedules and arrears may vary between forces.
Officers should check internal payroll notices before relying on a particular payment date.
How Does Police Pay Compare With Other Public-Sector Awards?
The 3.5% police award sits close to several other public-sector settlements announced for 2026. However, direct comparisons require caution because different workforces have different implementation dates, pension schemes, progression systems and funding arrangements.
Police officers also face employment restrictions that do not apply to many other workers, including the inability to strike. The PRRB considered this restriction when making its higher 3.9% recommendation.
The most useful comparison is therefore not simply which profession received the highest percentage. It is whether each award keeps pay competitive, protects recruitment and can be funded without reducing frontline services.
Conclusion
The police pay rise for 2026 is confirmed at 3.5% for all ranks and pay points in England and Wales from 1 September.
It is lower than the 4.2% increase awarded in 2025 and below the 3.9% recommended by the independent Police Remuneration Review Body.
The Government has also announced higher regional allowances, additional funding and changes to certain leave and acting-up arrangements.
The Police Federation continues to argue that the settlement is insufficient to reverse long-term pay erosion or resolve recruitment and retention pressures. Attention will now turn to implementation of the new salaries, outstanding regulatory changes and the 2027/28 pay review.
FAQs
What Is The Police Pay Rise For 2026?
Police officers in England and Wales will receive a confirmed 3.5% consolidated pay increase from 1 September 2026.
Is The 3.5% Police Pay Rise Confirmed?
Yes. The Government confirmed the award on 15 July 2026 after considering recommendations from the police pay review bodies.
When Does The Police Pay Rise Start?
The new salaries and relevant allowance increases take effect on 1 September 2026.
Does The Award Apply To Every Police Rank?
Yes. The Government confirmed a 3.5% increase across all police ranks and pay points in England and Wales.
How Much Extra Will Officers Receive Each Month?
The gross increase depends on existing salary. An officer earning £50,256 would receive approximately £146.58 more per month before deductions.
Will Officers Receive Backpay?
The rise is effective from 1 September rather than April. If implementation is delayed, any arrears should be calculated from the September effective date.
Is Another Police Pay Rise Planned For 2027?
The annual review process will continue, but no confirmed percentage has been announced for the 2027/28 police pay round.
