May 06, 2025 | Finance and Procurement , Finance
Request Number: FOI-14386
Category: Finance and Procurement - Finance
Subject: Sergeant and Constable pay scales
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold some information to which your request relates and this is being provided to you. We consider the information you seek in request number 1 is exempt by virtue of Section 21 of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies. We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office which we have followed in responding to your request.
Request 1
1. Please provide details of Sergeant and Constable payscales for each pay point from September 2020 to date.
EG
Sergeant
2020 2021 2022
Pay Point 1 xK xK xK
Pay Point 2 xK xK xK
Pay Point 3 xK xK xK
Constable
2020 2021 2022
Pay Point 1 xK xK xK
Pay Point 2 xK xK xK
Pay Point 3 xK xK xK
Pay Point 4 xK xK xK
Answer 1
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide the applicant with a notice which: (a) states the fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies. The following exemption has been applied:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
Please see the below hyperlinks :
Library | Police Federation NI – under pay scales and allowances
Constable pay scales
Request 2
Please confirm the average rate of overtime as a percentage of basic pay for Sergeant and Constable grades for years from September 2019 to date.
Answer 2
Please see the answer to Request 2 provided in the table below.
| Constable | Sergeant | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019/2020 | 14% | 16% |
| 2020/2021 | 15% | 17% |
| 2021/2022 | 14% | 16% |
| 2022/2023 | 14% | 16% |
| 2023/2024 | 12% | 14% |
| 2024/2025 | not available | not available |
Request 3
Please confirm the average period of time that Sergeants progress through each pay point of the Sergeant pay scale. i.e. Average number of years at Pay Point 1 before progression to Pay Point 2 etc.
Answer 3
Progression is normally 1 year, there are exceptions when points are dropped off and an assimilation process takes place. Please see below for this process that took place effective from September 2020.
The Revised Sergeants pay scale (removal of the bottom point) from 01/09/2020 has now been completed with arrears being paid in April.
In terms of how Officers were assimilated please see below the approach agreed by the Department of Justice which mirrors England and Wales:
On 1 September 2020, pay point 1 was removed. All sergeants on pay point 1 at that date were moved to pay point 2 (with a new increment date of 1 September). Sergeants on pay points 2, 3 or 4 at that date were not affected. Members appointed to the rank on or after 1 September 2020 join at pay point 2 and move up to the next pay point annually, depending on the date of becoming a sergeant, in accordance with normal practice.
Request 4
Please confirm whether progression between pay points for Sergeants is automatic.
Answer 4
Once the pay awards are approved by the Department of Justice, all increments are processed and back dated accordingly.