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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| MPs call for police pay rethink | MPs call for police pay rethink |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 160 MPs are calling on the government to rethink its decision to stagger the police pay award. | More than 160 MPs are calling on the government to rethink its decision to stagger the police pay award. |
| Police officers are furious at the government's insistence it will not backdate a 2.5% pay rise for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Police officers are furious at the government's insistence it will not backdate a 2.5% pay rise for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| One police chief called it "shabby and dishonourable" and there are several Parliamentary motions urging a rethink. | |
| Gordon Brown says all public sector pay awards have been staged in the national interest - to keep inflation down. | Gordon Brown says all public sector pay awards have been staged in the national interest - to keep inflation down. |
| The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has called for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to resign and is to ballot its members over whether they want the right to strike. | The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has called for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to resign and is to ballot its members over whether they want the right to strike. |
| 'Mean' decision | 'Mean' decision |
| And on Friday three chief constables publicly criticised the government's decision. | |
| Mike Fuller, head of Kent police, said his officers had worked hard to meet government targets and were angered by the government's decision. | Mike Fuller, head of Kent police, said his officers had worked hard to meet government targets and were angered by the government's decision. |
| He told the BBC: "I think it's certainly mean and our officers feel cheated. It is so unnecessary that the home secretary will not backdate their pay." | He told the BBC: "I think it's certainly mean and our officers feel cheated. It is so unnecessary that the home secretary will not backdate their pay." |
| North Wales' chief constable Richard Brunstrom said in his online blog that the government's refusal to accept the result of independent arbitration is a "shabby and dishonourable act". | |
| Meanwhile Stephen Otter, head of Devon and Cornwall police, said he was disappointed and would be supporting the dispute by the Police Federation. | Meanwhile Stephen Otter, head of Devon and Cornwall police, said he was disappointed and would be supporting the dispute by the Police Federation. |
| The federation says the pay rise really amounts to 1.9%, because the 2.5% increase starts in full from 1 December rather than September. In Scotland it is being backdated in full to September. | The federation says the pay rise really amounts to 1.9%, because the 2.5% increase starts in full from 1 December rather than September. In Scotland it is being backdated in full to September. |
| The BBC's Andy Tighe said about five parliamentary private secretaries were among about 90 Labour MPs who had signed two Early Day Motions. | The BBC's Andy Tighe said about five parliamentary private secretaries were among about 90 Labour MPs who had signed two Early Day Motions. |
| The most popular, tabled by Labour MP and chairman of the home affairs committee Keith Vaz, says the dispute over 0.6% is "petty and needless" and urges the government to rethink it. | The most popular, tabled by Labour MP and chairman of the home affairs committee Keith Vaz, says the dispute over 0.6% is "petty and needless" and urges the government to rethink it. |
| Another, by Conservative MP Bob Spink, says it will be seen as "another insult" by police officers. | Another, by Conservative MP Bob Spink, says it will be seen as "another insult" by police officers. |
| After a meeting with police officers in Wolverhampton on Friday - as part of a drink and drugs awareness campaign, Ms Smith said she was "getting on with the job". | After a meeting with police officers in Wolverhampton on Friday - as part of a drink and drugs awareness campaign, Ms Smith said she was "getting on with the job". |
| "As the prime minister has said, this is a decision that we believe was in the national interest - balancing as we have to affordability for the police force with fairness for police officers, and with fairness across the public sector and for taxpayers and for those paying mortgages and suffering if we let inflation get out of control," said Ms Smith. | "As the prime minister has said, this is a decision that we believe was in the national interest - balancing as we have to affordability for the police force with fairness for police officers, and with fairness across the public sector and for taxpayers and for those paying mortgages and suffering if we let inflation get out of control," said Ms Smith. |
| The 2.5% pay deal was decided through the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. | The 2.5% pay deal was decided through the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
| It will see all police constables paid a minimum of £21,500, with those with the longest service receiving £33,800. | It will see all police constables paid a minimum of £21,500, with those with the longest service receiving £33,800. |
| But officers say if it is introduced this month and not backdated to September, an entry level police constable will lose £131, and a sergeant will lose £206. | But officers say if it is introduced this month and not backdated to September, an entry level police constable will lose £131, and a sergeant will lose £206. |