The starting salary for police officers is to be slashed by £4,000 to £19,000 after the Home Secretary Theresa May approved a package of controversial reforms.
Greater Manchester Police's chief constable Sir Peter Fahy has spoken to ITV News about the decision to slash the starting salary for junior police officers by £4,000 to £19,000.
He said: "Overall, Chief Constables were against this proposal so that's why we welcome that we will have flexibilty.
"I'll be surprised if many forces start new entrants on at £19,000 because the fact is the people we're getting are very highly qualified, they've got previous experience, and therefore they will be justified to be on the higher rate".
Existing police pay and conditions were designed more than 30 years ago which is why we asked Tom Winsor to carry out his independent review.
Police officers and staff deserve to have pay and workforce arrangements that recognise the vital role they play in fighting crime and keeping the public safe, and enable them to deliver effectively for the public.
The Government's reform programme is working - crime is falling and public confidence is high.
Police constables' starting salary to be cut by £4,000
The starting salary for police constables is to be cut by £4,000 to £19,000, the Home Secretary Theresa May said, as she accepted a number of recommendations on a package of reforms.