The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) has called on Northern Secretary James Brokenshire to take action to deliver a pay award to thousands of PSNI officers.
PSNI officers will not receive a pay increase this month because there are no Stormont government ministers in place to sign off on any deal.
Northern Ireland is currently without an Executive in Stormont as talks continue between political parties to restore powersharing. The Executive has not been fully functioning since January when Martin McGuinness, since deceased, stood down as deputy first minister.
The British government has announced the end of a public sector pay cap, which will see police officers in England in Wales get a 1 per cent rise and a 1 per cent bonus backdated to the start of the month. Previously, pay parity in the North had been maintained with England and Wales, but the PFNI has warned that that expectation can no longer be guaranteed.
‘Disgust and disappointment’
"Much to our disgust and disappointment there has been no such award relating to police officer pay for Northern Ireland," said Mark Lindsay, PFNI chairman.
“The sole reason for this is the absence of a devolved administration, which requires consideration for any recommendations by both a justice minister and a finance minister. In addition, there is currently no legislative process in place in Northern Ireland to sign off any element of an award,” he added.
"The Department of Justice is in possession of the Pay Review Body recommendations relating to police pay in Northern Ireland, but a decision has been made at permanent secretary level not to share these recommendations prior to a minister having sight of same," said Mr Lindsay.
The PFNI has written to Mr Brokenshire urging him to enact legislation to enable decisions to be taken in the absence of local ministers.