Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has welcomed the introduction of a new salary sacrifice car leasing scheme which is designed to help hardworking police staff and officers access new, environmentally friendly vehicles through individual lease arrangements at a reduced cost.
The scheme enables employees of Durham Constabulary and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) to lease a vehicle by giving up a portion of their gross salary, with payments deducted before tax. This can result in savings through reduced Income Tax and National Insurance contributions for participating employees.
The scheme also delivers efficiencies for the organisation, with each individual lease arrangement generating a reduction in employer National Insurance contributions of up to £750, because of the salary sacrifice mechanism.
It comes after the Commissioner championed the value of salary sacrifice schemes during her previous role as Joint National Lead for Environment and Sustainability on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), acting in the interests of 43 forces across England and Wales.
The PCC is also Chair of BlueLight Commercial – the national non-profit organisation established by the Home Office to transform procurement and commercial activities across policing and fire services, delivering better value for taxpayers.
As Chair, the Commissioner leads an organisation which is already delivering over £112min direct benefits, managing over 300 national contracts and supporting forces to ‘buy once and for all’.
The Durham scheme enables participating employees to enter into a fixed‑cost lease over either two or three years, with no requirement to pay a deposit.
Alongside insurance for the main driver and additional drivers, the monthly charge also includes breakdown cover and all routine servicing and repair costs arising from normal usage of the vehicle including puncture repair and the replacement of tyres from wear and tear.
The scheme has been made available to Durham Constabulary through a BlueLight Commercial framework agreement, using NHS Fleet Solutions as the approved leasing provider. NHS Fleet Solutions delivers salary sacrifice schemes across the public sector and is recognised for its strong social value and sustainability credentials.
Employees who choose vehicles from UK‑based manufacturers, such as Jaguar Land Rover or Nissan, can also support domestic jobs, skills and regional supply chains, aligning with the PCC’s ambition to maximise social value and deliver wider community benefit alongside individual savings.
Under the scheme, vehicles are leased directly by individual employees through salar ysacrifice and are not provided, funded or gifted by the Police and Crime Commissioner, the OPCC, Durham Constabulary, BlueLight Commercial or NHS Fleet Solutions.
As with all salary sacrifice arrangements, a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax applies, determined by the manufacturer’s list price of the car and a percentage calculated by the exhaust emissions of the car. This is lower for electric vehicles (EVs).
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said: “I am really pleased we can now offer this scheme to our workforce. The savings offered by the salary sacrifice initiative will make this an attractive option to most employees, providing extra support at a time when households are struggling with the higher cost of living.
“Our officers and staff work extraordinarily hard on behalf of their communities and as responsible employers, we remain committed to their mental and physical wellbeing. The introduction of this ‘all-inclusive’ lease package offers financial savings, convenience and peace of mind and forms part of our ongoing mission to boost the welfare of our workforce. Importantly, it also ensures were main competitive employers, attracting and retaining the most talented and motivated recruits to keep our communities safe from harm.”
Chair of Durham Police Federation Louise Guest said: “Police officers across the country continue to face significant financial pressures as the cost of living remains high.
“As a Federation, we welcome any initiative like this that can play an important role in easing that burden by providing more affordable options for essential everyday expenses.
“While they are not a substitute for fair pay, schemes that help officers make their money go further are definitely a step in supporting their wellbeing and recognising the vital work they do in our communities.”
John Carter,Senior Business Development manager for NHS Fleet Solutions, said: “NHS Fleet Solutions are delighted to partner with the Durham Constabulary. We are proud that our scheme makes Ultra Low Emission Vehicles more accessible and affordable for officers and staff through salary sacrifice, helping to ease cost of living pressures while supporting the transition to net zero. It is a practical solution that delivers real financial benefits today, while contributing to a more sustainable future.
“Offering access to Ultra Low Emission Vehicles through salary sacrifice is not just about sustainability—it is about supporting the wellbeing of officers and staff. Our scheme(s) enhance total reward packages, helping forces attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive environment. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Force during these last few months during set-up and already the scheme is enjoying early success with over twenty-five new vehicles on order during the first 3 weeks.”
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