Long welcomes PSNI pay award

PSNI officers will receive the recommended 4.2% pay awards in January salaries, Justice Minister Naomi Long has confirmed.

It follows an additional funding allocation to the Department of Justice in the December monitoring round and efforts by the Department and PSNI to identify savings in their budgets.

Minister Long said: “I am delighted officers have received the news before Christmas that their pay award will be included in their first salary in 2026. Our police officers constantly put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, attend harrowing scenes and provide crucial support for victims; this pay award is reinforcement of my commitment to prioritise and support the PSNI.

“The pay award, which applies to the equivalent of 6,165 full-time officers up to the rank of Chief Superintendent, reflects the dedication, bravery and professionalism of PSNI officers who do an amazing job protecting the public and our communities.

“At a time when recruitment is crucial for the force it is imperative that the PSNI can attract and retain highly skilled and motivated people to work in policing, and pay plays an important role in achieving this.”