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| Police to join in pay row rally | Police to join in pay row rally |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| About 15,000 police officers are expected to gather in London for a mass march and rally in a protest over pay. | About 15,000 police officers are expected to gather in London for a mass march and rally 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. | 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 say it is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where the rise has been backdated to 1 September. | Police say it is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where the rise has been backdated to 1 September. |
| The Home Office said it had a responsibility to make sure pay rises were in line with government policy. | The Home Office said it had a responsibility to make sure pay rises were in line with government policy. |
| In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. | In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
| Anger felt | Anger felt |
| The rally is the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago. | The rally is the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago. |
| The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises Brendan BarberTUC general secretary Q&A: Police pay row | The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises Brendan BarberTUC general secretary Q&A: Police pay row |
| BBC News home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the latest protest is set to command even greater support, a sign of the anger police feel at the home secretary's refusal to implement their pay award in full. | BBC News home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the latest protest is set to command even greater support, a sign of the anger police feel at the home secretary's refusal to implement their pay award in full. |
| There is almost no chance of a government u-turn - with ministers determined to control public sector wages - but police want to make the point that pay rises determined independently should be honoured, he added. | There is almost no chance of a government u-turn - with ministers determined to control public sector wages - but police want to make the point that pay rises determined independently should be honoured, he added. |
| Officers from Scotland - where police will get the entire 2.5% rise - will show support for their colleagues by taking part, as will some from higher ranks, including superintendents. | Officers from Scotland - where police will get the entire 2.5% rise - will show support for their colleagues by taking part, as will some from higher ranks, including superintendents. |
| The marchers will form a "mass queue" outside Parliament to lobby their MPs. | The marchers will form a "mass queue" outside Parliament to lobby their MPs. |
| A rally of 3,500 officers in Westminster will be followed by Police Federation chairman Jan Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. | A rally of 3,500 officers in Westminster will be followed by Police Federation chairman Jan Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. |
| 'Solidarity and support' | 'Solidarity and support' |
| Mrs Berry rejected the government's argument that public sector pay restraint was needed to control inflation. | Mrs Berry rejected the government's argument that public sector pay restraint was needed to control inflation. |
| She said: "All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount. | She said: "All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount. |
| "We're the one group of workers who can do very little about having an award imposed upon them - other workers can threaten to take industrial action." | "We're the one group of workers who can do very little about having an award imposed upon them - other workers can threaten to take industrial action." |
| The federation has warned its members that anti-police groups may try to disrupt the event and asked demonstrators not to respond to taunts. | The federation has warned its members that anti-police groups may try to disrupt the event and asked demonstrators not to respond to taunts. |
| We believe that effective pay arrangements for police officers are essential for a modern police service Home Office spokesman | We believe that effective pay arrangements for police officers are essential for a modern police service Home Office spokesman |
| Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force will police the event. | Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force will police the event. |
| Officers attending the demonstration said that feelings were running high among police ranks. | Officers attending the demonstration said that feelings were running high among police ranks. |
| One protester, Jeff Maps, said: "All we are asking for is an equitable pay rise that is fair and transparent." | |
| Another, Michelle Greatrex, added that members of parliament "are entitled to a 2.8% pay rise, so why can't we have our pay rise?" | Another, Michelle Greatrex, added that members of parliament "are entitled to a 2.8% pay rise, so why can't we have our pay rise?" |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the demonstrators. | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the demonstrators. |
| He said: "The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises, undermining in the process the integrity of the independent pay determination machinery that has contributed so much to industrial relations stability." | He said: "The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises, undermining in the process the integrity of the independent pay determination machinery that has contributed so much to industrial relations stability." |
| 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' | '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. |
| He said: "It's true that some areas of crime have fallen like burglary and vehicle crime, but I think that's as much to do with longer prison sentences and the fact that we're all spending more as a society on burglar alarms and car alarms and so on. | He said: "It's true that some areas of crime have fallen like burglary and vehicle crime, but I think that's as much to do with longer prison sentences and the fact that we're all spending more as a society on burglar alarms and car alarms and so on. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. |
| The prime minister's spokesman said it had been necessary to deliver several pay settlements in stages to keep inflation under control. | The prime minister's spokesman said it had been necessary to deliver several pay settlements in stages to keep inflation under control. |
| But Labour MP Martin Salter said the government could have compromised by increasing other payments to officers without backing down on the headline rate of pay. | But Labour MP Martin Salter said the government could have compromised by increasing other payments to officers without backing down on the headline rate of pay. |
| He added: "To lose the confidence of the crime fighters themselves is not clever politics and it's not right." | He added: "To lose the confidence of the crime fighters themselves is not clever politics and it's not right." |
| The Liberal Democrats' candidate for London Mayor, Brian Paddick, a former Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will take part in the march. | The Liberal Democrats' candidate for London Mayor, Brian Paddick, a former Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will take part in the march. |
| He said: "The police pay deal is a cynical attack on police officers because they cannot strike." | He said: "The police pay deal is a cynical attack on police officers because they cannot strike." |