This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7129957.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police accuse Smith over pay deal Police accuse Smith over pay deal
(about 8 hours later)
The Police Federation of England and Wales has accused the government of reneging on a pay deal worth more than £30m to serving officers. The government has been accused of reneging on a pay deal worth more than £30m to serving officers by the Police Federation of England and Wales.
It says it has seen a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith proposing not to backdate a 2.5% pay award to September.It says it has seen a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith proposing not to backdate a 2.5% pay award to September.
The federation warns police officers may seek the right to strike.The federation warns police officers may seek the right to strike.
The Home Office said it welcomed the findings of the Police Arbitration Tribunal, which negotiated the deal, and an announcement would be made soon. The Home Office said an announcement would be made soon, but the Scottish Government said it would go ahead with the award and backdate it to September.
'Emergency meeting''Emergency meeting'
The Police Federation described the confidential letter's contents as "dishonourable", adding that it would mean officers receiving a lower-than-inflation pay award. Earlier this year nurses in Scotland were granted their pay rise in full. That too was ahead of colleagues south of the border, who received their pay rises in stages.
Jan Berry, the federation's chairman, said: "This is contemptuous behaviour by the Home Secretary, and has rightly angered the 140,000 police officers in England and Wales who have been waiting patiently for their pay award since 1 September." The Police Federation of England and Wales described the confidential letter's contents as "dishonourable", adding that it would mean officers receiving a lower-than-inflation pay award, effectively worth 1.9%, from December.
Jan Berry, the federation's chairman, said: "This is contemptuous behaviour by the home secretary and has rightly angered the 140,000 police officers in England and Wales who have been waiting patiently for their pay award since 1 September."
We are extremely disappointed that the Home Secretary has decided to stage the award Phil BlundellAssociation of Police AuthoritiesWe are extremely disappointed that the Home Secretary has decided to stage the award Phil BlundellAssociation of Police Authorities
She added that a "number of officers" were saying they should have the "right to take industrial action".She added that a "number of officers" were saying they should have the "right to take industrial action".
The federation is calling for an emergency meeting of its leaders in London next week.The federation is calling for an emergency meeting of its leaders in London next week.
"Police officers should either have full industrial rights or independent binding arbitration - currently we have neither," Ms Berry said."Police officers should either have full industrial rights or independent binding arbitration - currently we have neither," Ms Berry said.
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have also expressed disappointment at the alleged contents of the letter. The Association of Police Authorities (APA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) have also expressed disappointment at the alleged contents of the letter.
Statement dueStatement due
Phil Blundell, vice-chairman of the APA, said: "The APA welcomed the recommendation from the Police Arbitration Tribunal last week and believes that the 2.5% police pay award should be implemented in full from 1 September.Phil Blundell, vice-chairman of the APA, said: "The APA welcomed the recommendation from the Police Arbitration Tribunal last week and believes that the 2.5% police pay award should be implemented in full from 1 September.
"We are extremely disappointed that the Home Secretary has decided to stage the award." "We are extremely disappointed that the home secretary has decided to stage the award."
Chief Constable Ken Jones, president of ACPO, added: "If the leaked letter is authentic then chiefs will be disappointed. Chief Constable Ken Jones, president of Acpo, added: "If the leaked letter is authentic then chiefs will be disappointed.
"They recognise and support government in their intention to ensure that pay is affordable."They recognise and support government in their intention to ensure that pay is affordable.
"The arbitration process has, we feel, now arrived at a fair and affordable award. The award is broadly in line with comparable groups and had been budgeted for.""The arbitration process has, we feel, now arrived at a fair and affordable award. The award is broadly in line with comparable groups and had been budgeted for."
A Home Office spokeswoman said the Home Secretary was grateful for the Police Arbitration Tribunal's findings and that a statement on police pay would be made shortly. A Home Office spokeswoman said the home secretary was grateful for the Police Arbitration Tribunal's findings and that a statement on police pay would be made shortly.