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Police in protest rally over pay Police in protest rally over pay
(about 5 hours later)
An estimated 22,500 police officers have marched in central London in a protest over pay.An estimated 22,500 police officers have marched in central London in a protest over pay.
Officers are angry that a 2.5% pay rise has been backdated to only 1 December for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Police are angry that a 2.5% pay rise was only backdated to 1 December for UK officers except for those in Scotland.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would have liked to pay more but it was part of the "fight against inflation".Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would have liked to pay more but it was part of the "fight against inflation".
The Police Federation, which represents officers, has applied for a judicial review of the decision by ministers. Police Federation chairman Jan Berry held "constructive" talks with the home secretary, but said trust between the two sides needed to be rebuilt.
The Home Office said it had a responsibility to make sure pay rises were in line with government policy. Police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% annual increase - unlike that in Scotland, where it has been backdated to 1 September.
But police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where it has been backdated to 1 September. We've got to trust the people that we're going to be negotiating with. And that trust is going to have to be rebuilt because it's been broken Jan BerryPolice Federation chairman class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7205013.stm">A very orderly protest class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/7204914.stm">Can police protest within law? class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7140610.stm">Public sector pay compared
Anger felt The Police Federation, which represents officers up to the rank of Chief Inspector, has applied for a judicial review of the decision by ministers.
The rally was the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago.
See map of march and rally locations
Both the Met Police and the Police Federation estimated that 22,500 officers had joined the march.Both the Met Police and the Police Federation estimated that 22,500 officers had joined the march.
Only a small number of uniformed officers had been deployed to man what was largely a quiet and orderly protest.Only a small number of uniformed officers had been deployed to man what was largely a quiet and orderly protest.
All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount Jan Berry, Police Federation A very orderly protestCan police protest within law? One protester, Pc Michael Ramsden of Thames Valley Police, said of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith: "I feel we have been lied to. We have no confidence in her at all."
Another, Tony Metcalfe, of Greater Manchester Police, added: "They keep comparing us to teachers but I don't see any teachers rolling around in the street in someone else's blood on Saturday nights sorting people's lives out."
Detective Constable Emma Chapman, from the Metropolitan Police, said she hoped the protest had made the government "sit up and take notice" and repeated calls for the home secretary to resign.
Officers from Scotland showed support for their colleagues by taking part, as did some from higher ranks, including superintendents.Officers from Scotland showed support for their colleagues by taking part, as did some from higher ranks, including superintendents.

POLICE PAY ROW

Earnings lost if 2.5% rise not backdated to September 2007

Rank Salary Loss PC (entry level) £21,009 £131 PC (after training) £24,813 £155 Sergeant £32,985 £206 Inspector £42,264 £264

POLICE PAY ROW

Earnings lost if 2.5% rise not backdated to September 2007

Rank Salary Loss PC (entry level) £21,009 £131 PC (after training) £24,813 £155 Sergeant £32,985 £206 Inspector £42,264 £264
Some of the marchers visited Parliament to lobby their MPs.Some of the marchers visited Parliament to lobby their MPs.
A smaller rally at Central Hall in Westminster, consisting of 3,500 officers, was followed by Police Federation chairman Jan Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. A rally at Central Hall in Westminster, consisting of 3,500 officers, was followed by Ms Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting home secretary.
Mrs Berry rejected the government's argument that public sector pay restraint was needed to control inflation. Ms Berry said of the meeting with Ms Smith: "She did listen and the talks were certainly more constructive than my last meeting with her, which I would describe as being pretty acrimonious."
She said: "All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount." She added: "We recognise that we need to move on at some stage but what we pointed out to the home secretary is that the 25,000 police officers who came to London today and those left behind who were doing their duty, there's still some unfinished business for how we've been treated.
"And for us to be able to enter into negotiations in the future, we've got to trust the people that we're going to be negotiating with. And that trust is going to have to be rebuilt because it's been broken."
She told MPs at a meeting in the House of Commons that the federation filed documents applying for a judicial review on 22 January.She told MPs at a meeting in the House of Commons that the federation filed documents applying for a judicial review on 22 January.
Speaking at the Westminster rally, Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said it was "a disgrace" that the government had "let the officers down."
"It is a matter of the basic covenant between the police and the state. It is a matter of trust. Every officer here today, every officer in the country has been treated shoddily by the government," he said.
The police officers on the march over their payIn picturesThe police officers on the march over their payIn pictures
Speaking at the Westminster rally, Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg said it was "a disgrace" that the government had "let the officers down."
Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis followed Mr Clegg onto the stage and said he didn't understand why the government had reneged on the pay deal.Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis followed Mr Clegg onto the stage and said he didn't understand why the government had reneged on the pay deal.
"Inflation? Frankly, the effect on inflation would be trivial. Perhaps it's cash? The government is short of cash, but that is not your fault. It's the consequence of not putting money aside in good years in order to have it in the poor years."
Union leaders including TUC general secretary Brendan Barber have been meeting with ministers, including Chancellor Alistair Darling, to lobby the government to reverse its sub-inflation pay offers for public sector workers.
Mr Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the police demonstrators.
HAVE YOUR SAYMany police officers put their own safety at risk every day to protect us and they should be fairly paidFS, EnglandSend us your comments
Federation members will be balloted next month on whether to campaign for the right to strike.Federation members will be balloted next month on whether to campaign for the right to strike.
'Vital work'
However, Andrew Haldenby, director of the think tank Reform, said police had been given above-inflation pay rises for the past 12 years without delivering a better service.However, Andrew Haldenby, director of the think tank Reform, said police had been given above-inflation pay rises for the past 12 years without delivering a better service.
HAVE YOUR SAYMany police officers put their own safety at risk every day to protect us and they should be fairly paidFS, EnglandSend us your comments
"For things like anti-social behaviour where we do look to the police to actually make a difference, those areas of crime have not improved at all," he said."For things like anti-social behaviour where we do look to the police to actually make a difference, those areas of crime have not improved at all," he said.
The Police Minister, Tony McNulty, said instead of marching, the officers should be talking to the government. The Police Minister, Tony McNulty, said that instead of marching, the officers should be talking to the government.
PUBLIC SECTOR PAY Police constables currently start on £21,009Teachers' starting salary is £19,161 in England and Wales. In Scotland it is £23,316 New prison officers earn £18,483 in England and Wales. In Scotland they receive £14,373Lower grade civil servants, such as administration assistants, begin on between £11,750 and £14,083 depending on departmentFirefighters start on £20,396, rising to £27,185 after reaching "competent" status Source: Unison 2006 figures, Fire Brigades Union Who earns the most?
He added: "My message would be - as the home secretary has said - let's sit down now and look forward."He added: "My message would be - as the home secretary has said - let's sit down now and look forward."
The Home Office said the home secretary was grateful for the vital and hard work carried out by police officers.The Home Office said the home secretary was grateful for the vital and hard work carried out by police officers.
"However, we also have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements take into account affordability and consistency with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation," a spokesman said."However, we also have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements take into account affordability and consistency with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation," a spokesman said.
In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal.
MARCH ROUTE AND RALLY LOCATION March started on Park Lane and went through Hyde Park Corner, Victoria Street and Horseferry Road before ending on Millbank outside Tate Britain art galleryAfterwards people with tickets headed for rally at QEII Conference Centre or Central Hall next doorOthers headed for Parliament to queue and lobby their MPs
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