Police forced to turn to food banks as they struggle to feed families on salaries, senior rep claims
Average annual police wages are not covering some area's high living costs, chairman of Sussex Police Federation says
COPS earning an average of £40,000 are using food banks to help make ends meet, a police rep claimed yesterday.
Matt Webb, chairman of Sussex Police Federation, said some were paid so badly they could not afford to feed their families.
Some officers have required vouchers, given to them by the federation, so they could buy provisions, while others have been forced to turn to food banks.
Salaries in Sussex started around £20,000, he said, which did not go far due to the high cost of living in the area.
The average rent for a one bedroom property in Brighton is currently £957 per calendar month, leaving officers just £463 to cover other household bills, food and fuel costs.
Meanwhile a three bed house will set renters back £1,630 a month, or £19,560 for the year - £440 short of the average officer's annual wage.
Mr Webb said: “It is not right that police officers, who are prevented by law from having a second job, are finding it hard to make ends meet.
“I believe a couple of officers have gone to food banks and we have helped a small number with food vouchers.”
The news comes after Home Secretary Amber Rudd last week claimed the average wage for a police officer was now £40,000.
Her remarks were met with audible discontent by the hundreds of officers attending her speech at the Police Federation conference.
The Home Secretary said she was 'surprised' to hear that officers were receiving handouts from the federation's welfare fund.