Essex Police top officer bonus pay review called for

Steven Kavanagh takes over as Essex's Chief Constable on Tuesday

A review of bonus payments for top officers has been called for after it emerged a new chief constable would get £192,163 a year.

Stephen Kavanagh will take over from Jim Barker-McCardle as Essex Chief Constable on Tuesday.

Nearly a quarter of Mr Kavanagh's overall package is made up of allowances.

But chairman of the Essex Police Federation, Mark Smith, said starter pay for officers had been cut.

The salary offered to Mr Kavanagh, currently the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, is £17,505 more than Mr Barker-McCardle received in 2011-2012.

The Essex branch of the Police Federation welcomed the appointment but said it was concerned senior officers were getting allowances - such as a flat rate 15% of salary for being in a senior position - while rank and file officers had seen competency payments stopped.

'Officer morale low'

"I want to work with this chief constable and if he comes in and sorts Essex Police out then he will have earned his money," said Mr Smith.

"Our officer morale is extremely low, they cannot get annual leave, competency-related payments have stopped, a new joining constable will get £19,000 - a drop from £22,000 - and there is a pay freeze.

"This month I, for example, saw my pay go down."

Defending the pay awarded Mr Kavanagh, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Nick Alston said: "Stephen Kavanagh is an exceptional police officer.

"During the selection process, Stephen's passion to lead Essex Police for a full four years and to serve the people of Essex was crystal clear.

"We had an outstanding field of candidates, of whom Stephen was the very best.

"Therefore, I have decided to use the discretion given to me under the legislation to ensure that Stephen is remunerated at the top end of the agreed national range."

Essex Police has yet to comment on Mr Smith's comments about the force.