NCA staff to receive 3.8% pay award

Statement made by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on NCA workforce pay and allowances

The twelfth report of the National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body (NCARRB) is being laid before Parliament and published today. The NCARRB report advises the Government on the pay and allowances for National Crime Agency (NCA) officers with operational powers and to consider the whole NCA workforce.

I would like to thank the Chair and members of the Review Body for their work on gathering evidence from the NCA, the Home Office, HM Treasury, and the Trade Unions, resulting in their detailed, comprehensive report. The Government values the independent expertise and insight of NCARRB and takes on board the useful advice and principles set out in response to our remit letter of 27 October 2025.

The NCA is a leader in the fight against serious and organised crime, supporting law enforcement partners with its specialist capabilities and focusing on the highest harm offenders, groups and networks which pose the greatest threat to our society. They are a key operational partner to deliver our priorities for organised immigration crime, working in support of the Border Security Command. They are providing national leadership in tackling grooming gangs, making our streets safer and protecting the economy by tackling money laundering and fraud.

The Government is committed to ensuring the NCA continues to develop and evolve in response to the rapidly evolving and complex nature of serious and organised crime. Part of this transformation includes empowering the Agency's ability to attract, recruit and retain the skilled workforce it needs.

The NCARRB's twelfth report made the following recommendations:

• A consolidated pay award of 4.7% for all NCA officers within our remit group. The spot rates for Grades 1 to 5 and the minima and maxima of the standard pay ranges for Grades 1 to 6 should be raised by 4.7%.

• An increase of 4.7%, in line with the pay award, to the London Weighting Allowance and South-East Allowance for all NCA officers within our remit group.

• The NCA undertakes a review of the purpose, design and uprating mechanisms of the London Weighting Allowance and the South-East Allowance. In parallel, the NCA should work with policing partners and trade unions to consider the long-term future of these allowances in the light of the wider reforms set out in the Police Reform White Paper and the NCA's transition to the National Police Service.

• An increase of 4.7%, in line with the pay award, to the International Liaison Officer Allowance and Diplomatic Compensation Allowance for officers in our remit group.

After careful consideration, I have decided to take the following approach:

• Fully accept recommendation three which will deliver increases to NCA allowances.

• An increase of 3.8%, in line with the proposed pay award for the NCA, to the London Weighting Allowance and South-East Allowance for all NCA officers within our remit group.

• An increase of 3.8%, in line with the proposed pay award for the NCA, to the International Liaison Officer Allowance and Diplomatic Compensation Allowance for officers in our remit group.

• A pay award of 3.8% is proposed for the NCA. This baseline award will be complemented with the approval of pay and contract reforms that the NCA will be able to take forward, including pay progression for its officers. Taken together this is an excellent outcome for the Agency and is consistent with the NCARRB's report. In particular, this step supports progressing the NCA's transition to the future National Police Service as announced in the Government's White Paper: From local to national: a new model for policing.

In reaching these decisions, I have given due consideration to a number of factors including the value NCA officers give to the public by protecting them against the threat of serious and organised crime, affordability, and delivering value for the taxpaying public.

This award represents a significant increase, with this year's 3.8% award building on last year's increase of 4.5%. The award will be funded within the NCA's existing budget, and I am confident it will greatly support the Agency's efforts to eradicate the most dangerous organised crime groups operating within and against the UK.

Alongside the pay award, the government is approving the NCA's Pay and Contract Reform package. This will support the NCA's transition towards the National Police Service by introducing conditional pay progression, further helping to narrow differences with policing.