The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, has expressed his disappointment at the government decision to freeze police officer and staff pay for the current year.

The government announced this week that the public sector pay pause will apply to police officers, meaning that those officers earning more than £24,000 will not receive a pay award this year. Those earning under £24,000 will receive a one-off sum of £250.

Dr Alan Billings, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Although I recognise that at some point the government will need to take difficult decisions about the nation’s finances, freezing the pay of the police and others in the public sector is poor reward for what they have done for us over this past year and a half.

“The police officers and support staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that the restrictions were observed and the spread of the coronavirus was contained.

“Frontline officers have often put themselves at risk in order to ensure that we were kept safe and law and order was maintained.

“I join with other police and crime commissioners across the country, of all political parties, who are calling on the government to support the police and offer a deserved pay rise.”