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/7164917.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Police offer Smith 'olive branch' | Police offer Smith 'olive branch' |
(30 minutes later) | |
The Police Federation has offered what it calls an "olive branch" to the home secretary in the bitter row over pay. | The Police Federation has offered what it calls an "olive branch" to the home secretary in the bitter row over pay. |
The federation had called for Jacqui Smith to resign over her decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise for police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The federation had called for Jacqui Smith to resign over her decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise for police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
But in a letter, its chairman Jan Berry now says she believes Ms Smith was badly advised, although she urges her once again to reconsider her decision. | But in a letter, its chairman Jan Berry now says she believes Ms Smith was badly advised, although she urges her once again to reconsider her decision. |
Ministers say the award is appropriate and is in line with inflation targets. | Ministers say the award is appropriate and is in line with inflation targets. |
'Angry and disappointed' | 'Angry and disappointed' |
The decision not to backdate to September the 2.5% pay rise agreed at arbitration has outraged police officers. | The decision not to backdate to September the 2.5% pay rise agreed at arbitration has outraged police officers. |
Officers say this amounts in real terms - taking into account inflation - to an increase of 1.9%. | Officers say this amounts in real terms - taking into account inflation - to an increase of 1.9%. |
It has prompted the Police Federation to say it will ballot members in 2008 on whether they want the right to strike. | It has prompted the Police Federation to say it will ballot members in 2008 on whether they want the right to strike. |
I want to take this opportunity to offer an olive branch. It's not too late to change course and stop this situation escalating Jan BerryPolice Federation | I want to take this opportunity to offer an olive branch. It's not too late to change course and stop this situation escalating Jan BerryPolice Federation |
Police officers across the UK are currently banned from taking industrial action. | Police officers across the UK are currently banned from taking industrial action. |
In her open letter to the home secretary, Mrs Berry, who chairs the Police Federation of England and Wales, warned that officers remained "angry and bitterly disappointed" at the pay settlement. | In her open letter to the home secretary, Mrs Berry, who chairs the Police Federation of England and Wales, warned that officers remained "angry and bitterly disappointed" at the pay settlement. |
But she said she believed Ms Smith had been the victim of ill-informed and naive counsel in her early weeks in office and that it was not too late to reconsider the pay decision. | But she said she believed Ms Smith had been the victim of ill-informed and naive counsel in her early weeks in office and that it was not too late to reconsider the pay decision. |
"I want to take this opportunity to offer an olive branch," she wrote. | "I want to take this opportunity to offer an olive branch," she wrote. |
"It's not too late to change course and stop this situation escalating." | "It's not too late to change course and stop this situation escalating." |
Tribunal agreement | Tribunal agreement |
Mrs Berry added: "You know the mood of police officers, the public and many of your political colleagues. I can assure you, we have no intention of letting this go. | Mrs Berry added: "You know the mood of police officers, the public and many of your political colleagues. I can assure you, we have no intention of letting this go. |
"I would ask you therefore to urgently reconsider the decision. Do the right thing for policing, for police officers and for the good of the country." | "I would ask you therefore to urgently reconsider the decision. Do the right thing for policing, for police officers and for the good of the country." |
Mrs Berry said such a move would "restore honour" in the office of home secretary and rebuild trust with officers. | Mrs Berry said such a move would "restore honour" in the office of home secretary and rebuild trust with officers. |
The police's 2.5% pay deal was decided through the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. | The police's 2.5% pay deal was decided through the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
Mrs Berry wants to rebuild trust between ministers and officers | |
But while officers in Scotland are having their 2.5% pay rise backdated to 1 September, as the tribunal recommended, those in other areas of the UK received the rise this month. | But while officers in Scotland are having their 2.5% pay rise backdated to 1 September, as the tribunal recommended, those in other areas of the UK received the rise this month. |
Ms Smith's stance has been attacked by several police leaders, including Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair, who said she had made a "mistake" in refusing to meet police pay demands, although he did not believe she should resign. | Ms Smith's stance has been attacked by several police leaders, including Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair, who said she had made a "mistake" in refusing to meet police pay demands, although he did not believe she should resign. |
The Home Office said Ms Smith would meet Mrs Berry in January to continue talks and try to find a "constructive way forward". | The Home Office said Ms Smith would meet Mrs Berry in January to continue talks and try to find a "constructive way forward". |
"The police pay award is higher than the original government offer and is now in police pay packets in full," a spokeswoman said. | "The police pay award is higher than the original government offer and is now in police pay packets in full," a spokeswoman said. |
"However, staging the award from December ensures that it is fair to both police officers and to other public sector workers, and is right for the future of our economy." | "However, staging the award from December ensures that it is fair to both police officers and to other public sector workers, and is right for the future of our economy." |
Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, welcomed Mrs Berry's letter and urged Ms Smith to engage in talks with officers. | Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, welcomed Mrs Berry's letter and urged Ms Smith to engage in talks with officers. |
"We need a New Year's resolution from the home secretary to end the bitterness and move on," he added. | "We need a New Year's resolution from the home secretary to end the bitterness and move on," he added. |
Previous version
1
Next version