THE chief of Hampshire’s union for police officers has hit out at the “outrageous” pay rise for MPs.

All members of Parliament will get a £2,212 pay hike on 1 April, seeing their basic salary go up to £84,144 a year.

But over the last decade, due to austerity based pay freezes and subsequent below-inflation pay rises, police officer pay has fallen in real terms by 20% behind the cost of living.

READ MORE: Almost half of police officers in Hampshire worry about finances

Officers have reacted to the news with, with Zoe Wakefield, Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, saying: “It is outrageous for MPs to be receiving a 2.7% pay rise for the extra work they did during the pandemic when police officers received nothing.

“Police officers continued to work during the entirety of the pandemic; putting themselves and their families at risk, being assaulted, spat at and coughed at while imposing the legislation brought in by this Government at very short notice. This did not warrant any pay rise, so I am confused as to what risk MPs took during the pandemic?

“My members will be disgusted and angry at this announcement. It is yet another example of betrayal by this Government.”