More than 30 police officers are paid more than the prime minister, despite much publicised cost-cutting measures and threats to front-line services.
According to the Telegraph, 31 officers were paid more than £150,000 in 2008-09, up from 29 in 2007-08. The prime minister, David Cameron, earns £142,500 a year.
Almost 20,000 officers were paid more than £50,000 in the same year – a 26% increase on 2007-08.
The Metropolitan Police’s officers were the highest paid, with more than 10,000 earning more than £50,000.
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Peter Fahy, lead for workforce development at the Association of Chief Police Officers, said there had been a “reduction in the number of senior posts as forces hold vacancies”. He also said most forces would be carrying out restructuring exercises “to reduce management costs as part of a general fall in staff numbers”.
Policing minister Nick Herbert has announced a review into the force’s pay and conditions – the current three-year pay deal for front-line officers runs out in September 2011.
