Some police civilian staff in Devon and Cornwall face pay cuts running into thousands of pounds, while others will see a pay rise, following a new grading and pay proposal for all police staff.

Devon and Cornwall Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) have been in negotiations with the three recognised trade unions over the move, and this morning staff received details of how the proposals will hit their pockets, should they be accepted by union members.

The force says that having fully considered the offer, the trade unions (Unison, GMB and Unite) have decided to ballot their members on the proposal with the recommendation to accept.

If the proposal is implemented 16 per cent of staff will see a fall in pay, however "the overwhelming majority of staff will see their basic pay either stay the same or increase", according to a police spokesman.

For those whose basic pay will decrease, pay protection will be in place, with no-one seeing a real terms decrease for 12, 18 or 24 months, depending on the percentage decrease of their salary.

Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer said: “The proposal we have put to staff today is, in my view, the right outcome for police staff and the public overall. I recognise that this has been a difficult time for many of my staff, but it was vital that Job Evaluation and grading and pay were carried out in order that we could be confident that we were treating all staff fairly with regard to their pay.

“If the proposal is accepted at ballot, the new grading and pay system will simplify the grades and structures for police staff and give them greater opportunities for development and promotion.

It will also introduce structured career development for police staff and move pay progression from length of service to a system that better recognises competence and the gaining of additional skills.

“Throughout the process we have been conscious that some staff will see their salary reduce as a result and therefore, to help to minimise the impact of the proposal, the Police and Crime Commissioner and I have agreed that an additional £2.9 million should be used to give a degree of pay protection to those affected.

“The PCC and I have been clear with staff from the start that this is not a cost cutting exercise and alongside pay protection our commitment to an immediate uplift in the pay bill is a demonstration of that commitment.

“Given the force’s history with job evaluation any project was going to be a challenge to deliver, but nonetheless I have been impressed with the patience, fortitude and support for one another that my staff have demonstrated.”