CIVILIAN workers employed by Lancashire Constabulary have been promised a Living Wage.

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw announced yesterday he had secured accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation.

It means all staff at his office and the civilian staff within the constabulary will be guaranteed at least £7.65 an hour, £1.34 more than the national minimum wage. The announcement doesn’t apply to police officers, whose salaries are negotiated on a national level.

Mr Grunshaw said: “I am delighted to have secured this accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation.

“This commitment to the Living Wage is not merely symbolic, and I wholeheartedly believe it is vitally important for the county as a whole that employees in Lancashire are paid a wage that accurately reflects the true cost of living.

“Both my office and the Constabulary are committed to ensuring that when we enter into agreements with partners, agencies and contractors, all staff working for us as a result are paid the living wage.

"I know there are many organisations across Lancashire which have already embraced this commitment and I now call on all employers, particularly those in the public sector, to seriously consider following in our footsteps and signing up for the Living Wage.

“It is a commitment that can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Maureen Le Marinel, president of Unison which represents workers, said: “I am very pleased.

“With the current state of the economy and the lack of wage increases for public sector workers for a considerable period of time that is news that we welcome. I do not believe that we have any one who was below the Living Wage, but it is still good news.”