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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Anger grows over police pay deal | Anger grows over police pay deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Police Federation is seeking an urgent meeting with the home secretary to protest against her decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise. | The Police Federation is seeking an urgent meeting with the home secretary to protest against her decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise. |
| It says the rise for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland really amounts to 1.9%, as it starts from 1 December rather than September. | It says the rise for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland really amounts to 1.9%, as it starts from 1 December rather than September. |
| The federation adds it is considering campaigning against the legal ban on officers taking strike action. | The federation adds it is considering campaigning against the legal ban on officers taking strike action. |
| The government says the pay rise is in line with its inflation target. | The government says the pay rise is in line with its inflation target. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "We've been through a process of arbitration. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "We've been through a process of arbitration. |
| "The arbitration board recommended an award of 2.5% which we have accepted. | "The arbitration board recommended an award of 2.5% which we have accepted. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY As a serving Police Constable in Lancashire Constabulary, I could not and would not go on strike Ben, Lancashire Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY As a serving Police Constable in Lancashire Constabulary, I could not and would not go on strike Ben, Lancashire Send us your comments |
| "But I have staged it so that instead of coming into operation on the first of September it comes into operation on the first of December." | "But I have staged it so that instead of coming into operation on the first of September it comes into operation on the first of December." |
| Ms Smith added that the pay award would be "just under 2%", keeping it in line with the government's target for inflation. | Ms Smith added that the pay award would be "just under 2%", keeping it in line with the government's target for inflation. |
| The increase will see all officers paid a minimum of £21,500, with those with the longest service receiving £33,800. | The increase will see all officers paid a minimum of £21,500, with those with the longest service receiving £33,800. |
| Ballot call | Ballot call |
| The Police Federation says officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had been told their pay would be backdated to September, as it was in Scotland. | The Police Federation says officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had been told their pay would be backdated to September, as it was in Scotland. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Andy Tighe says there is widespread anger at the announcement within the service. | BBC home affairs correspondent Andy Tighe says there is widespread anger at the announcement within the service. |
| Police officers need faith in their hours and conditions system, and at the moment they haven't got it Jan Berry, Police Federation | Police officers need faith in their hours and conditions system, and at the moment they haven't got it Jan Berry, Police Federation |
| But he adds that the government is standing firm, saying police officers shouldn't get a better deal than other public service workers such as nurses. | But he adds that the government is standing firm, saying police officers shouldn't get a better deal than other public service workers such as nurses. |
| The police are forbidden from taking strike action by an act of parliament, although some Police Federation members are calling for a ballot to demand this ban is removed. | The police are forbidden from taking strike action by an act of parliament, although some Police Federation members are calling for a ballot to demand this ban is removed. |
| Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation in England and Wales, said each police officer would lose about £200 as a result of the failure to backdate the rise to September, but there was a greater principle involved. | Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation in England and Wales, said each police officer would lose about £200 as a result of the failure to backdate the rise to September, but there was a greater principle involved. |
| She told BBC Breakfast: "The one group of workers who can do absolutely nothing about this - it's a criminal offence for us to go on strike or even to talk about withdrawing labour in any shape at all - the one group of workers who have no other opportunity to do this are having this done to them. | She told BBC Breakfast: "The one group of workers who can do absolutely nothing about this - it's a criminal offence for us to go on strike or even to talk about withdrawing labour in any shape at all - the one group of workers who have no other opportunity to do this are having this done to them. |
| "Now, if we were any other part of the public sector, people would be balloting to go on strike. We can't do that. | "Now, if we were any other part of the public sector, people would be balloting to go on strike. We can't do that. |
| "So for me, you either have to have industrial rights, or you have to have binding arbitration, and we have neither." | "So for me, you either have to have industrial rights, or you have to have binding arbitration, and we have neither." |
| The chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, Labour MP Keith Vaz, urged Ms Smith to reverse her decision, which he condemned as "petty and mean". | |
| He said: "Over the last 10 years the police have been asked to take on many new responsibilities including dealing with counter-terrorism. I am not surprised that so many of them are angry. | |
| "It is important that the people who put their lives on the line for us every day are shown that their dedication is appreciated." |