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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Police reject Home Office message | Police reject Home Office message |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Three of Wales' four police chief constables have refused to pass on the Home Secretary's Christmas message to staff after a row over pay. | Three of Wales' four police chief constables have refused to pass on the Home Secretary's Christmas message to staff after a row over pay. |
| A 2.5% pay rise was expected to be backdated to September but Jacqui Smith said it would only go back to December. | A 2.5% pay rise was expected to be backdated to September but Jacqui Smith said it would only go back to December. |
| In reaction, top officers at the Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent forces have said they won't pass on her Christmas message to staff. | In reaction, top officers at the Dyfed-Powys, South Wales and Gwent forces have said they won't pass on her Christmas message to staff. |
| Despite criticising the pay deal, North Wales Police circulated the message. | Despite criticising the pay deal, North Wales Police circulated the message. |
| A spokesperson for the North Wales force said: "We are not in the business of censorship. We will be passing on the Home Secretary's Christmas message." | |
| However, speaking about his decision not to pass on the Christmas message to rank and file officers, Dyfed-Powys Police's Acting Ch Con Andy Edwards said: "There is a great deal of disappointment and anger at the decision of the Home Secretary and most police officers feel badly let down and totally undervalued by the actions of the Home Office. | |
| Ch Con Barbara Wilding says the pay award should be honoured | Ch Con Barbara Wilding says the pay award should be honoured |
| "It would be insensitive to them therefore, especially at this time, to pass on remarks that they would regard as lacking conviction." | "It would be insensitive to them therefore, especially at this time, to pass on remarks that they would regard as lacking conviction." |
| In the neighbouring South Wales force, a spokesman explained Ch Con Barbara Wilding's reasons for not circulating the message. | In the neighbouring South Wales force, a spokesman explained Ch Con Barbara Wilding's reasons for not circulating the message. |
| "A decision was taken not to circulate the Home Secretary's message following representations from police officers. | "A decision was taken not to circulate the Home Secretary's message following representations from police officers. |
| "Miss Wilding has made clear her view that the Home Secretary should honour the Police Pay Tribunal's ruling." | "Miss Wilding has made clear her view that the Home Secretary should honour the Police Pay Tribunal's ruling." |
| And a spokesman for Gwent Police said: "We have received a Christmas message from the Home Secretary and it will not be passed onto staff. " | And a spokesman for Gwent Police said: "We have received a Christmas message from the Home Secretary and it will not be passed onto staff. " |
| North Wales Police's Ch Con Richard Brunstrom has passed on the message to staff but in his blog earlier this month, he criticised the decision not to backdate the rise to September for police in England, Northern Ireland and Wales as a "kick in the teeth". | North Wales Police's Ch Con Richard Brunstrom has passed on the message to staff but in his blog earlier this month, he criticised the decision not to backdate the rise to September for police in England, Northern Ireland and Wales as a "kick in the teeth". |
| He said the UK Government was being "shabby and dishonourable". | He said the UK Government was being "shabby and dishonourable". |
| 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, while those with the longest service will receive £33,800. | It will see all police constables paid a minimum of £21,500, while those with the longest service will receive £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. |
| The Scottish Government has agreed to implement the tribunal's award in full. | The Scottish Government has agreed to implement the tribunal's award in full. |
| The police are forbidden from taking strike action by an act of Parliament. The Police Federation will ballot in the new year over a demand this ban is removed. | The police are forbidden from taking strike action by an act of Parliament. The Police Federation will ballot in the new year over a demand this ban is removed. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the decision was "in the national interest" and to keep inflation down. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the decision was "in the national interest" and to keep inflation down. |
| More than 160 MPs have urged ministers to rethink the decision to stagger the police pay award. | More than 160 MPs have urged ministers to rethink the decision to stagger the police pay award. |