Metropolitan police officers up to and including the rank of chief superintendent, with a minimum of one year's service, are to be given a £350 bonus.

The move was announced today by Commissioner Cressida Dick amongst a range of decisions the force says will support officers in their roles and recognise their efforts.

She said the MPS had planned for a higher pay award for police officers in 2018 so can make the "recognition payment" from its existing budget.

In a statement the force said the payment recognised the response to the multiple terrorist attacks in London, the Grenfell Tower fire, other major events and "responding robustly to the rise in violence across London amongst many other pressures".

The impact on officers and the disruption to their family lives over this period has been significant, it added.

Comm Dick said: “It is absolutely right that we have made this payment to our officers. Their bravery, dedication and professionalism has been put to the test over the last two years to an extraordinary degree.

"Officers across the Met have made a huge contribution to London by doing outstandingly demanding, important and frequently unpleasant work. The challenges continue. This has come at a considerable cost to them as individuals and their families. A £350 payment cannot come close to matching the contribution in delivering through these extraordinary times, but nevertheless it is right that recognition is made.

“We planned in our budgets for higher pay for police officers in 2018 than was finally awarded. By planning effectively, we can therefore make this recognition payment to our officers from our existing budget, and I am pleased that we have been able to do so.”

Ken Marsh, Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “We are pleased that following discussions, the management board has agreed to make this payment to our members, after the government ignored the recommendations of the independent body that advises them on police pay.

“This is no less than our hard-working members deserve. Our officers put their lives on the line day in, day out to protect the people of London and it is only right that they should be given this bonus.

“We thank the Commissioner and the management moard for their decision.”

The Met's statement said the pressure of the last 18 months has been equally felt by police staff and the pay award for this year reflects the demands they have faced - both those in front-line and operational support roles. The 2018 pay award for police staff will be a 2.5 per cent increase and backdated to August 2018 and made at the end of February 2019.

It added an investment in additional equipment to support effectiveness and officer safety will also be rolled out in 2019:

• By November 2019 the current Taser Uplift Project will provide 6,467 specially trained Taser officers across the Met followed by an extra uplift of 330 Taser trained officers from November 2019 to March 2020.
• An increase of an extra 400 mobile fingerprint devices.
• Detailed guidelines to be developed to allow the roll out of spit and bite guards to officers beyond their current use in custody in the coming months. 

Comm Dick added: “My role is to ensure officers have what they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. The announcements I have made to colleagues today are important issues that are intended to support officers and staff in keeping London safe. Officers, in particular are tasked with responding to often dangerous situations and they need the protection to be able to do so safely, in order to protect the public, victims and suspects.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Our police officers work extremely hard and in challenging circumstances to keep Londoners and our city safe. After a period when our under-resourced and overstretched officers have had to cope with the terrorist attacks and other horrific events on top of their day-to-day duties keeping London safe, I am glad we are able to make this additional payment in recognition of their ongoing efforts to protect us.

“It’s vital the Commissioner is able to ensure the police have the equipment they need to do their jobs, although of course it must always be used in a proportionate and transparent way.”