Drop length-of-service raises for police: U.K. report

Salaries should be based on performance and skills, not years served

The current pay system for police in the United Kingdom does not reward expertise or encourage officers to learn specialist skills, according to new report.

The report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), due to be released in February, recommends the current system, which increases salaries based on length of service not on effort or ability levels, should be done away with.

Instead, pay bands should be introduced for each rank, with higher pay for those with specialist skills, such as tackling gang-related crime or victim support.

"The police do a difficult and challenging job, but no system of pay is fair that rewards people solely on the basis of time served rather than their ability to do the job effectively," said Guy Lodge, research fellow with IPPR.

Other recommendations from Modernising the Police Workforce include:

• A more skilled, specialized workforce: Allowing officers and staff to develop and use their skills to maximum effect by pursuing a wide range of specialties.

• New, more flexible team structures: Increased use of mixed teams of police officers and specialist civilians.

• A new supportive culture of training and development: More focus on the active development and training of each and every police worker.

• A new approach to performance management: A move away from remote, central targets to one where performance is primarily driven by senior officers supporting constables to deliver results.

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